Jane Weyallon Armstrong

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...

Okay, thank you. Can the Minister explain what this senior citizen supplementary benefit represents. It was up in 2023-2024, and it stayed the same, 2024-2025, and to 2025-2026, 3.2. It went down a little bit, but so if the Minister can explain why there's change in this senior supplementary benefit. Thank you.

Masi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker [Translation] Masi, Mr. Speaker.  Mr. Speaker, I'm talking about the -- I'm talking about the -- the federal government is -- what happened -- (audio) using a lot of million dollars of our -- so the 19 of us in here, each and every -- each and every one of us, there's a lot of things we need for.  We know that it will be hard and difficult for us at times.  So right now, we are in the deficit.  We're in a huge debt.  So -- so the -- so -- so at this time, at times, when we have a bill, we have to pay our House, power bills, grocery bill, our vehicle bills...

Yes, thank you. Thank you, I know you got carried away. It is okay. But you being a parent, and I know you probably seen it all and, you know, us too as well in small communities.

I know that we all want our young people to do well in life. We want them to succeed in life. We want them to start working. We don't want them living on the system or, you know, like, income support to be dependent. We want them to be independent. That's what we all want for our young people because they are our future generations. And another one too is that SFA.

I know lately I've been hearing lots of parents...

Well, yeah -- well, that's a good information to know. And it's not just only with the Indigenous -- with Aurora College, but this could be done in partnership with the Indigenous government or organizations because the schools are doing their part, but we need more. And it's kind of disappointing that, you know -- that we had to get rid of that program. But it would be nice if we can build on other programs to promote the Indigenous language. It doesn't have to be in the regional centre but each region can do their own. But I think this is where the partnership is important with the...