Robert Villeneuve

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment on the Income Support program in relation to persons with permanent disabilities. Mr. Speaker, as you are well aware, persons with permanent disabilities receive an enhanced benefit through the Income Support program for their permanent disability. I just wanted to ask the Minister if he and his department have taken into consideration any available option of creating a program that is separate from an alternative to the Income Support program for people with permanent handicaps in the NWT...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this summer, I was blessed with the opportunity to attend a spiritual gathering east of Reliance on Great Slave Lake near the mouth of the Lockhart River, along with many other constituents of Tu Nedhe. Also, we were lucky to have a visit by our Premier during this spiritual gathering. The spiritual significance of this river is not only very important to the spiritual well-being of the residents of Tu Nedhe, but it also allows residents of Tu Nedhe and surrounding areas to come together to share oral history and prayer along with many evenings of laughter...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just on that last point. It’s good that the Minister stated that our program offers a little bit more monetary value to the clients, I guess, but basically there is no assurance that clients are going to receive this disability benefit every month based on the regulations and policies set out in the Income Support program. In the Alberta model, it’s assured income. Regardless of other family members' incomes, it states that if you are severely handicapped…

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I know they are all under the Income Support program and under the one department, but many people with these permanent disabilities are in households with other people who are under different Income Assistance programs. In a revision in July 8, 2002, in the eligibility requirements of the Income Support program, it states for the purposes of clarity if either the head of the household or spouse and family is disqualified for any valid reason under the regulations and policies of the Income Assistance program, the disqualifications extend to the family...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to recognize two of my staunch supporters from Tu Nedhe. They are my mom, Terry Villeneuve; my sister Anita; and I believe my dad is outside for a smoke break.

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I seek unanimous consent from the Members to continue my statement.

Thank you. …so that these positive changes can be realized at the grassroots where many residents have become too complacent about what the role and responsibilities are of this government and why the system of program delivery has grown quite cumbersome and confusing in some areas, resulting in a loss of trust by residents in our system of government.

Mr. Speaker, I hope I and my colleagues will make this a priority during this 15th Legislative Assembly; to make these and other positive changes happen so that we can all benefit in the long term. Thank you.

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Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Let me just start off by sending my greetings out to my constituents in Tu Nedhe. Let me say it’s nice to be back in the House and I look forward to working on some of the many issues and concerns that have been brought to my attention by my constituents, residents of the NWT and Canada.

Mr. Speaker, as you and my colleagues are well aware the political landscape of Canada has gone through some significant changes over the past few months and, thanks to the diligent and persistent work of our leadership, we as northerners have an enormous opportunity to make great...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am glad that the Premier also recognizes that it is an issue with him, and if it is an issue with him I think that is a big issue for this government, and I think that we should really pay more attention to the assessment process for eligible applicants. Let me just ask the Premier then just getting some feedback from some of the first round applicants that are involved in the program, when is this program going to start? I know a lot of these participants haven’t received any developmental assignments, any activities or any mentoring or coaching or training of any...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Premier for his answer and that information. Let me just ask the Premier is it only the director of the corporate human resources that is doing the assessment on all the applicants that he receives for the program, or is there an assessment review committee in place to review the applicants? Thank you.