Kevin A. Menicoche

We’re all aware that, of course, we’re living in the North and the cost of living is much higher up here and that’s the reason we had exempted these federal transfers. We are clawing it back, and I’d like to ask Mr. Premier, can he commit for his government to review this situation and correct that and exempt Child Tax Benefit as income. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Earlier I spoke about the Child Tax Benefit being included as income in the Housing Corporation’s changes to their programming. Seemingly little changes that happen often have big impacts in our smaller communities and in this case that is such the case.

We had a commitment, as a full Caucus of this territorial government, to lower the cost of living, yet we make a change to impact parents and single parents like this.

I’d like to ask Mr. Premier, can the Cabinet review this situation where we are, in essence, clawing back the federal Child Tax Benefit. Thank...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Recently, I was shocked and appalled to learn that this government has begun clawing back the Child Tax Benefit. The Child Tax Benefit is a federal subsidy that was put in place to help Canadian families with the challenges of meeting the cost of raising children.

This summer the NWT Housing Corporation began including the Child Tax Benefit in its income assessments for public housing rents. As a result, some people who received the benefit have had their rents go up. This change makes no sense to the average person.

I know that we are dealing with two...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Premier doesn’t seem to at least review it and I’d like to ask the Premier one more time, will he and his Cabinet review this and to the point where how much benefit is this government actually getting by doing that, by taxing our low and middle income people and single parents. Thank you.

Thank you very much. I recall the debate that we had two Assemblies ago and there was a reason we exempted these federal tax benefits to single parents and people of low income. So I’d like to ask, Mr. Premier, how is this consistent with our goal of lowering the cost of living for our residents by including Child Tax Benefit and clawing back the much needed little income that these people need.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize constituents Mr. Jim Antoine and Celine Antoine. We saw in the paper, as well, that Mr. Jim Antoine was also a recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Award. I worked with him and his daughter Melaw Nakehk’o, who just received a cultural award this morning. I think the Minister mentioned that. I just want to say to Melaw, keep doing what you love with your love of our Aboriginal culture.

Thank you very much. Of course, the weather and time permitting, I’d like to extend that offer, as well, so that we can meet with the residents that were brave enough to remain in the community, meet with them to see what their needs are and see how we can be helpful. As well, I’m willing to prepare and organize a meeting for the residents that are in Fort Simpson. Perhaps we can meet with them to see their needs, because now it’s actually a long-term issue. So if they’re willing to meet with the residents at both places, I’d be happy. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Given the seriousness of the situation in Nahanni Butte and the residents, I’d like to ask the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, who is also in charge of emergency measures, I believe, given the seriousness of the situation, what is the government’s plan moving forward to get the community up and running again? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that we report progress.

---Carried

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I know that the Emergency Coordinating Committee – I commend them all and everybody involved – that their task was evacuation and safety first. Would this be the same committee that’s looking at the long-term efforts of Nahanni Butte, or will there be a task force set up on how we best manage the relief of the community and restoring the community? Thank you.