Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the high cost of living in the Northwest Territories, I think everybody is aware, is a big challenge for this government, at the same time especially for people that live in their homes. Of course, particular costs that concerns all of us is just the cost of fossil fuels, including fuel oil. Disabled persons, this government I believe, tries to support them by ensuring that they live independently. My question is to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment: under the income support umbrella, what programs exist to help people with disabilities address their cost of living? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Department of Education, Culture and Employment has a great Income Assistance program and it's all based on a client-to-client review, and any persons with disabilities do have to set up a meeting with the client service officers within their regions and there are services provided to people with disabilities in the communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I'd like to thank the Minister for his reply. The services that the Minister outlines, can he provide an explanation in terms of those services that are available to disabled persons at the community level, and at the same at the territorial level?
Mr. Speaker, the income security programs provide for the basic needs whether it's market rental housing, clothing, food, just the basic needs for anybody looking to live an independent lifestyle whether it's a senior or persons living with disabilities. To get into more details, it is on a client-to-client basis on any income that they might have as well. To get into more detail anyone that's applying for income assistance that needs the help that they do need, I would encourage them to go to see a client service officer and work out a plan moving forward.
Mr. Speaker, it seems that the government has almost an open mind in terms of taking a case-by-case analysis in terms of the needs of persons that do indeed need income assistance, and for that matter, you know, when was the Northwest Territories monthly disability allowance and incidental allowance reviewed and updated?
It is reviewed on a regular basis. Right now I believe we are going through a review and we will be making some comments to that during this session and we will have information provided to committee as well as all Members.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we've seen other jurisdictions across Canada successfully provide incentives for people with disabilities. In the Northwest Territories we already have precedents. Precedents of providing assistance to seniors' fuel subsidies as one example. Will the Minister commit to review this issue through the government's inventory of available services? Mahsi.
One thing that the department is doing is that we're trying to make it a little bit clearer for people living with disabilities and the seniors who are on a fixed income to not have to report their income on a monthly basis; making it easier for them to access these programs and services. For other people that are on income assistance, we will have to look at the income on a monthly basis. But for persons living with disabilities and seniors on a fixed income I think we're moving ahead in terms of the reporting that they have to do on a monthly basis, and I think that that's a big improvement in terms of the time that persons with disabilities and seniors are putting towards filling out the paperwork.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Hay River North.
