Tom Beaulieu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Does the Department of Education, Culture and Employment have any documented objectives to address this issue of low employment rates in small communities?

Over and above the money allocated for employment programs in rural and remote communities, what is the plan to address the issue of low employment rates in small communities as it pertains to this department and other departments?

The regional positions, were they necessarily in the regional centres of Smith, Hay River, Simpson, Inuvik, Norman Wells? Were they in those communities specifically?

Can the Minister commit to giving direction to the staff to work with the local district education authority to come up with the costs to operate the old community learning centre as a shop for the career and technology services?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just have hopefully a short line of questioning. I am curious as to what type of PY reductions had occurred when the Public Housing Program was transferred back to the NWT Housing Corporation. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement I talked about the career and technology services in Tu Nedhe, both Fort Resolution and Lutselk’e. I have questions for the Minister of Education pertaining to the situation in Lutselk’e. Can the Minister clarify why the current community learning centre facility cannot be maintained temporarily for a career and technology services trades programming until the Lutselk’e Dene School expansion occurs?

The area of income assistance, I was wondering when the last time the department looked at the -- I forget what the term is -- but you’re allowed to earn so much money. Unearned or earned income. The earned income thresholds. When was the last time the department looked at the earned income thresholds?

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]

I am pleased to inform the House that next month a career and technologies services shop in Deninu K’ue School will officially be opened for the first time in 16 years. Thanks to initiatives set out by the Career and Technology Services Program, the industrial arts shop will reopen with all brand new equipment for the students to use for years to come, thus supporting the demand for skilled tradespeople in the North.

I would like to commend the principal and teachers of the Deninu K’ue School in Fort Resolution for all their hard work...

Needs assessment I’m assuming is income tested. I’m wondering if the income testing is fine. Is there any consideration for the cost of daycare or child care in that particular instance?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That is sufficient in this area for now. Thank you.