Kevin A. Menicoche

Mr. Speaker, I know that when there is will and desire by the Cabinet to spend extra money, they can certainly come up with the money. I would like to ask the Finance Minister when is Highway No. 7 being discussed at the Cabinet table. Who represents my constituency at the Cabinet table when this investment is required? Thank you.

Thank you very much there, Mr. Speaker. Just, once again, the financial aspects will be huge for our government. What is this government doing to make sure that we have money to take care of our seniors in the future? Thank you.

I would like to know what is the likely cost impact on our government of the changes to the old age security system. Has the Minister taken the time to assess what the changes will really mean financially to our system? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I just want to follow up on my Member’s statement on the federal government revisiting the Canada old age security and reforming it. I’d like to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment about what is the Minister and our government doing today to protect the NWT seniors from any negative impacts resulting from the federal changes to the old age security system. Thank you.

I think the real impact is that the rest of Canada, they do have, the seniors have the ability to continue working if they wish, and I think that was one of the biggest concerns of the federal government. However, in our remote and small communities, seniors don’t have that option, yet they will be impacted the same. So they’ll have to wait an additional two years is the concern. I’d like to ask the Minister if he will raise this aspect with the federal government that once again our needs in the North are unique.

I would like to know, has our government made any contact recently to make sure that we have some input at the federal level. I would like to know what changes are likely to be needed in our own support of seniors when the federal government changes the old age security rules. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. We are hearing a lot in the news lately about the possible changes to the Canadian Old Age Security Program. The current government is not saying much about it, but the responsible Minister, Diane Finley, says changes are crucial because costs are rising and there will be fewer and fewer workers paying into the system.

One of the suggestions for cutting the cost of oId age security is to change the age of eligibility for benefits from 65 to 67. Those same seniors, at least those with low incomes, would not be receiving their federally guaranteed income...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I just want to rise and note the whole intent of our points of order is to bring order to the House and I believe that further discussion is not really helping our Assembly and our government as a whole. Mahsi cho.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. As MLA with the most communities, as I travel to the communities the leadership often ask me about capital planning transfers. They’re very grateful for it and part of the New Deal is that the communities are able to make their own decisions about when and where to buy their capital or to build buildings, et cetera. They’re often a little leery about the O and M formula. I think I raised it with the MACA Minister in the last Assembly and I think they said there was some kind of review happening in terms of the formula financing for O and M. In fact, I think...

I believe that the Finance Minister, who’s got the strings for the financial purse, is not going to be mentioning Highway No. 7 in any of his statements. That’s my point. I’d like to ask the Minister of Transportation if he would get his colleagues to make it a priority and start mentioning it in this House.