Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I think it is one of the focuses of the GNWT, where we need to develop programs and services for those homeless who are out there. We currently do have programs among our resources. If we need to increase in that area, we need to work with the communities. We have contribution agreements with the communities, whether they be with First Nations or organizations in communities, to deal with the homelessness.

Certainly, any input from the Member or the Members will be very helpful for our discussions with the social envelope Ministers to move forward.

This does come down from the courts. We are enforcing it through the legislation. Like Ms. Shaner has indicated, there is a process of appealing their payments. If it’s too high, they can go back to the court. That’s one avenue they can certainly access. At the same time, there are people out there who could be unemployed, and they still owe money to their spouse and their children. That’s the area we’re focusing on as Maintenance Enforcement: again, the best interest of the child and the well-being of the child. There are avenues where they can go back to court. That’s why we’re enforcing...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. It’s a privilege to recognize Amanda Mallon, who is here with her staff, Dave Roebuck and Colleen Eckert. Amanda served four years as NWTTA president, and she is outgoing president. This is her last month, and we do have a new president coming on stream. I’d just like to say thank you for all the services that you’ve done for us. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. I have to my left Karan Shaner, ADM, and Mark Aitken, director of the legislation division.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. I’m pleased to appear before the committee today to review Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Maintenance Orders Enforcement Act. The purpose of Bill 5 is to give the Maintenance Enforcement Program more enforcement tools for collection of maintenance payments. The amendment will also bring the act in line with most Canadian jurisdictions which already have these tools available for collecting maintenance payments.

Considerable consultation was undertaken by the Department of Justice on these amendments with the Law Society; the family law section of the Canadian Bar Association, NWT...

Mr. Speaker, my department has been meeting with the Francophone School Board, the citizens of the French group and the Hay River DEA. We’ve been working with them to find solutions to the additional space problem, another area we are working on. The discussion on the right-holders-only enrolment part was also raised at those meetings.

There’s been some consultation in the community of Hay River. From there it also has an impact on the Yellowknife perspective. Like I said, we’re waiting until this coming Friday the 20th to seek some input from the Francophone communities and the communities of...

Mr. Speaker, we can certainly work with the one who is based out of Inuvik, who specializes in delivering the DARE program in the communities. If we can do up a schedule rotation through the communities of Sachs, Paulatuk, Ulukhaktok and Tuk, I’m sure it could be pursued, depending on their rotation schedule and their line of work.

Certainly, that message will be passed on through the G Division expeditiously. Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, the building itself is scheduled to come down in August. As far as I know, it’s not out there yet, but I believe it’s in the process.

There was a request to PWS to have another inspection done on the facility itself, so we’re in the process of pursuing that. We do have some time until then, so we are looking at other options as well. Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, through PWS and our department it was a contract for the inspection of the building.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. As I said, we do provide financial resources, and we will continue to do so. If we do need to improve in these areas, whether it be the program or services, I will certainly be discussing that with my other two colleagues in housing and also Health and Social Services; and I’ll be working with the Members, of course, on how we can improve in these areas, financially and in resources as well.