Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Thank you. Yes, I would like to see that, you know, that data. That's it for this part, this section. Thank you.

Okay, well, the fuel subsidy program, the senior home heating subsidy program is very important for many of our constituents, especially in the small communities, so, yes, I would like to see that review. It would be good so that we can send the message back to our elders. And it's important for them because they're working, you know. Like, they're working, doing work, which is good, but because they need to -- they have to live, you know. They did their job of raising their family all these years, and now we're penalizing them, you know, because they're doing extra work just to stay alive...

Yeah, thank you. Yes, thank you for that information.

You know, in small communities with the high cost of living, there's a lot of elders that are -- you know, they're doing part-time jobs to offset their living just like I know there are some in here too as well, and then, you know, like, the higher North, it's more expensive. But lately I've been getting phone calls from a lot of our citizens, senior citizens, in my region, and the fuel delivery -- fuel subsidy for Wekweeti is $750. For other communities, it's lower. So I just wanted to ask if that $750, for example in Wekweeti, is that for...

Can the Minister explain what this --

Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. I know that in many of the small communities, we have a lot of good support staff, we have a lot of good teachers, we have a lot of good schools. I don't want to discredit by saying that, you know, because our education is no good or, you know, like I heard that quite a few times, but we know that a lot of work is being done by the school staff. I've seen it myself by the support staff. They're making every effort for the student to succeed, to focus on the outcome. But there is a problem. There's one -- well, there's a lot of problems but, you know, one of...

Thank you. You did mention interpreter/translator or, you know -- we've been asking -- I've been asking too -- not just me, but there's a lot of people that have asked. Interpreter/translator program, it was offered through Aurora College at one time. It was a pilot project. And I know it was popular at that time. And I'm sure a lot of our interpreter/translator that are in here probably went through that program as well, you know. Interpreting is -- I mean, it is an important -- you know, it is important for -- to promote and save the Indigenous language even in a lot of our -- our...

Thank you. Thank you for the information and for the changes the department have made especially regarding with the disability. That's good because a lot of -- in my region, some express concerns and frustrations about some of the programs that they were -- that they're using. And I know it's not just others, but there are organizations, a lot of them did say that some of the income support clients, they don't -- you know, they don't want to go to work because it's so easy and that they will be penalized if they're working even to attend some other programs. But I know in my region, Tlicho...

Thank you. Income assistance. Income assistance went up. Can the Minister explain why there's an increase from 2023-2024 to 2025-2026, why there's a huge -- well, not a -- a big increase.

Okay, thank you. Student Financial Assistance program, okay, it did went up a great deal. I mean, that's really good. So it means that -- so a lot of students are using the Student Financial Assistance program. So how many of these students are -- it would be nice if we can have a breakdown of the regions and the Indigenous and non-Indigenous and how many are doing -- whether it's Indigenous or non-Indigenous but how many of this is student loan, part of the student loan program. Thank you.

Well, high cost of living, you know, some of these people, like you said, from -- okay, that's a long time but they do run out, you know. Like, I mean, they use up the subsidy program before the year is, you know, over. Even now, you know, like, there are -- because of the high costs. And so, you know, I know that some of the elders were saying 500 is not enough. 400, you know? Because they already ran out before the year end. And we still have, you know, until April. Like, I mean, we're not -- the cold month is still here. We still have March. And sometimes in April too, especially up North...