Productive Choice

The Government of Nunavut’s Income Support Program can help you meet your basic food and housing needs and become more independent.

In most cases the Income Support Program asks a lot of the person in need.  Participants have to do something about the situations that cause them to have little or no money.  Income Support helps by giving financial help.  However, participants must create and follow a plan to make Productive Choices.  Productive Choices are ways for the Participant to work towards independence.

The main objective of the Income Support Program is to help individuals maintain or achieve their independence.  With the exception of Community Living Support participants who are unable to work, individuals can benefit from training or education programs and/or counseling and treatment programs, and have an obligation to do what they can to improve their situation. 

All communities in Nunavut have productive choice programs to help people with their different needs.  Career Activity programs, such as education, training or work, offer activities that help people prepare for work.  Wellness Activity programs help people deal with their personal or social problems.  Volunteer Work Activity programs may also be included and assist the community as a whole.

A Productive Choice should take a minimum of 20 hours each week.  Participants are not limited to one activity, but may participate in many activities.  The Income Support Worker and the applicant should work together to assess, identify, and agree upon the Productive Choices that need to be carried out first.

Some examples of Career Activities are:

• Career Development Counseling - through local outreach workers, regional career development officers, adult educators, school counselors and Income Support Workers.
• Upgrading and Adult Basic Education - at the school or local college.
• Business Development - through local economic development officer.
• Training - through the local college or organization sponsoring training and employment activities such as Labour Market Development Agreement initiatives.
• Community Work Activities - through the municipality or community organization.
• Work Experience - similar to training programs.
• Harvesting - through local hunters and trappers organizations.

Some examples of Wellness Activities are:

• Alcohol and Drug Addiction Rehabilitation - including counseling, school and community education programs.
• Mental Health - including suicide prevention programs and helping depressed people.
• Family Support - including childcare, family counseling and child protection programs.
• Medical and Health Services - including public health, nutrition, community health education, baby clinics, health counseling and mental health support programs.
• Programs for Aged and Handicapped Persons - including financial help and homemaker assistance programs.
  
  Some examples of Volunteer Activities are:
• Hunting for Elders – supplying fish, meat and fur to needy elders in the community.
• Boy Scout, Brownies, Guides, Cadets and similar organizations – helping children complete their assignments and assisting in organizing camping trips.
• Recreational Programs – helping organize and supervise the various programs for children and adults.
• Reading in the schools – reading to children in the schools.
• Cleaning for the Elders – cleaning Elders’ homes on a weekly basis, doing their washing and ironing and any other task they may find difficult.
• Snow removal – clearing a path to another’s front door, especially Elders, by shoveling snow.