Wendy Bisaro

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have some questions today for the Minister responsible for the Status of Women Council. I want to follow up on my Member’s statement. I also want to follow up and ask these questions following a very excellent campaign school that was held in February and because International Women’s Day was just yesterday.

Both men and women acknowledge that there is a need for equality, and I talked today about gender equity on boards and organizations, but I’d like to ask the Minister, first of all, about the vision of he, as Minister for women, but also the GNWT, the government...

Thanks, Mr. Chair, and thanks to the Minister. It gives me some comfort that at least the department is going to look at it. I have to again say that eight years is a long time and things, particularly these days, change very rapidly. I would encourage the Minister to not wait for the 18th but to start planning now, put the money aside now for a comprehensive review of income security programs. Thank you. That’s a comment not a question.

Thanks to Mr. Heide. I agree, there have been some good changes, and an increase in allowances and evaluation of the old one and increasing it to make it a reasonably useful amount in the allowance has been a good thing. The other good change that I’ve noted is that some income assistance clients are being evaluated less often, and that’s a very positive step as well. I appreciate that I’ve got a handle on the changes that have been made, but in terms of the programs in general, and in terms of the contradictory nature of some of the policies and programs that exist in income support relative...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Quick question here. Members and committee have asked the Minister a number of times if we could have a bigger involvement in Aurora College and in knowing about what they’re doing with their budget. I believe we were advised, I believe the college budget came out in the fall, November or December perhaps. I would like to ask the Minister if a copy of that budget could be provided to Members. Thank you.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. That’s good.

Thanks. I thought I understood how JK was funded, but now I’m confused again. Mr. Lovely said that it’s funded internally. Can I get an explanation of what he means by that? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We wish to continue with Tabled Document 188-17(5), NWT Main Estimates 2015-2016, with the Department of Education and, time permitting, Public Works and Services.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. So the impact of junior kindergarten is not reflected in these education authority contributions? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we’ve heard already, Sunday is the 104th International Women’s Day. Sunday is also the 24th celebration of the NWT Wise Women Awards.

International Women’s Day is March 8th and it’s a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women, past, present and future. International Women’s Day honours the work of suffragettes who marched and fought for the right for women to vote, and the women who continue to fight for women’s rights today. In many countries across the world, International Women’s Day is a national holiday.

On International...

That’s good. Thanks.