Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wanted to follow up a bit further on the earlier questions I was asking. The Minister mentioned at the end of her final answer about establishing a basic income guarantee program throughout the NWT. I would just say that that's not really what the report was asking for. What the report was asking for is a basic income guarantee pilot, which is a very different thing. And I want to encourage the Minister, I want to encourage Cabinet, to try new things. I think it's pretty clear that income support isn't working. Would the Minister commit to establishing a basic income guarantee pilot program in the NWT?
Thank you, Member from Frame Lake. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, an investment like this, like a pilot, would require approval of significant dollars that would have to first be approved in this House. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I mean, I would be happy to approve whatever funding is needed if it was brought forward as a proposal. So, again, I would just ask -- I mean, what I'm trying to encourage the Minister to do here is have a look at the report, consider the possibility of establishing a pilot. It doesn't have to happen in this budget, but I'm just wanting us to move towards change, move towards trying new things. Would the Minister consider looking into it? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I definitely want to be responsive to this entire House and what people want to accomplish together. I will say that universal basic income is typically an unconditional benefit, and I'm hearing lots of desire to see conditional benefits brought back to this House and so I think it's really important that before the department goes away and does a tremendous amount of work that everyone is on the same page and is -- that the majority supports something of this nature, so I think that is an important first step. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Final supplementary. Member from Frame Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would just note that the report itself speaks a lot about disincentivization of work like we've talked about in the House, and so I think absolutely, we all do need to agree on the direction that we're going, and I hope through conversations that we can do that. But what I'm trying to encourage the Minister to do here is take something, some research that's been handed to the department, and use it to help improve the program we've got and think about new programs that could be brought in. So I'm just hoping the Minister will take what I'm asking for here and just understand that I am looking for them to consider it and bring forward consideration of it as we continue the conversation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm always open to new ideas. I'm also always open to ideas that really inspire and support people to -- you know, the Member mentioned opportunities to re-enter the workforce. That's why we have that reintroduction, or increase rather of earned income. I'm also looking at other mechanisms to work with very specific employers and very specific communities that are willing to look at actually bringing people on and supporting them up to thresholds as kind of a reentry and getting their first step back into the workplace or into the workplace for the first time. And so really working with residents and addressing some of the concerns that they have about entering the workforce and potentially losing their income assistance. And that can be very scary for residents. And so I think it's really important that we work with residents, and sometimes those are big steps and sometimes they're smaller steps, but every step matters. And so my answer is absolutely yes, I'm always happy to consider new ideas, I'm always happy to read reports. I have read this report and certainly happy to continue this conversation with the Member as well. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Oral questions. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
