That was also brought up. That will be part of the discussion we’ll be having with my department. We need to look at the overall structure of how we deliver subsidy programming. We talk about individuals living with their parents or grandparents and some individuals can be making more money than we are, standing up here. But we don’t charge them to be part of the household. So we ask for household income so they can be part of the process. So there’s no penalization on the elders. Those are the options we need to work with.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I did commit in this House a couple of weeks ago that we are looking at a seniors home fuel subsidy and if we need to make some changes, we need to work with the committee members. Those are areas that I did already commit. We will keep the Members posted as we move forward.

Mahsi, Mr. Chairman. I have with me Mike Reddy, policy and planning division, and Ian Rennie, legislation division.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am pleased to be here to speak to Bill 20, An Act to Amend the Evidence Act. I would like to thank the Standing Committee on Social Programs for its review of this bill.

The Evidence Act defines the prohibitions relating to the use of evidence in actions that are brought before a court under the laws of the Northwest Territories. The current act contains provisions that allow for the creation of committees that play a role in the health care system in the Northwest Territories. These committees have the authority to study, investigate or evaluate the hospital practice or...

Yes, I do, Mr. Chairman.

Definitely that will be part of our discussion. We need to think of all the analysis that is out there. Having those individuals that are living with their parents that are working versus the ones that are looking after their grandparents or parents, those are the discussions that we need to have.

The income security framework, there was a review back in 2007. Out of the review we made some changes to reflect on the high cost of living in small, isolated communities and to provide more subsidies to those communities. On the side of that, we’ve looked at a seniors home fuel subsidy, as well, and over time we made some changes on the threshold as well. This is a policy area. We’re looking at this request that was made a couple of weeks ago on various aspects of where seniors have their grandchildren or children living with them but they’re at 90-plus years of age. That was a scenario they...

Mr. Chairman, this particular area that the Member is addressing we are fully aware of it. We are planning for, as the Member alluded to, as we move forward, we want to identify what is required at the community level, especially those smaller communities that we represent. This is part of the plan. We have identified a lawyer for this new initiative. The following year we want to highlight what is required and push within our department part of the business planning process. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Language is about identity, who we are and how we understand and interact with each other. Promoting Aboriginal languages encourages the promotion of healthy lifestyles and family and cultural values.

In 1993, the Assembly of First Nations declared the Month of March Aboriginal Languages Month. Since then, the Northwest Territories honours Aboriginal languages and cultures in March. This year, Mr. Speaker, we not only celebrate Aboriginal languages through initiatives in place for 2011 but also recognize the achievements of 2010.

Mr. Speaker, 2010 was a very active year for...

I’m not sure what else to add but it’s a government-wide initiative and it’s a unit that deals with Aboriginal organizations on projects and initiatives that will affect various spectrums of issues that may be brought forward. Mahsi.