Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Well, high cost of living, you know, some of these people, like you said, from -- okay, that's a long time but they do run out, you know. Like, I mean, they use up the subsidy program before the year is, you know, over. Even now, you know, like, there are -- because of the high costs. And so, you know, I know that some of the elders were saying 500 is not enough. 400, you know? Because they already ran out before the year end. And we still have, you know, until April. Like, I mean, we're not -- the cold month is still here. We still have March. And sometimes in April too, especially up North...

Okay, thank you. Can the Minister explain what this senior citizen supplementary benefit represents. It was up in 2023-2024, and it stayed the same, 2024-2025, and to 2025-2026, 3.2. It went down a little bit, but so if the Minister can explain why there's change in this senior supplementary benefit. Thank you.

Masi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker [Translation] Masi, Mr. Speaker.  Mr. Speaker, I'm talking about the -- I'm talking about the -- the federal government is -- what happened -- (audio) using a lot of million dollars of our -- so the 19 of us in here, each and every -- each and every one of us, there's a lot of things we need for.  We know that it will be hard and difficult for us at times.  So right now, we are in the deficit.  We're in a huge debt.  So -- so the -- so -- so at this time, at times, when we have a bill, we have to pay our House, power bills, grocery bill, our vehicle bills...

Yes, thank you. Thank you, I know you got carried away. It is okay. But you being a parent, and I know you probably seen it all and, you know, us too as well in small communities.

I know that we all want our young people to do well in life. We want them to succeed in life. We want them to start working. We don't want them living on the system or, you know, like, income support to be dependent. We want them to be independent. That's what we all want for our young people because they are our future generations. And another one too is that SFA.

I know lately I've been hearing lots of parents...

Well, yeah -- well, that's a good information to know. And it's not just only with the Indigenous -- with Aurora College, but this could be done in partnership with the Indigenous government or organizations because the schools are doing their part, but we need more. And it's kind of disappointing that, you know -- that we had to get rid of that program. But it would be nice if we can build on other programs to promote the Indigenous language. It doesn't have to be in the regional centre but each region can do their own. But I think this is where the partnership is important with the...

Thank you. For the Indigenous language, to promote, that's good. I see here Indigenous language broadcasting. And it's -- it did went down from 2023-2024. Because I know that there's -- I mean, that's another way to encourage and support Indigenous language, to promote Indigenous language. Can the Minister explain why Indigenous language broadcasting went -- if there's a decrease in the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Thank you.

No, even my colleague have been asking about that, you know, like, so I just -- is there a review happening of this program, income assistance? Because we do have an issue, especially in small communities, people are making a living out of it and, you know, it was supposed to be a temporary. Even my colleague from Mackenzie Delta have been asking that and with the productive choice. We need to do something for our young people because as soon as the young people who are unemployed, they go to income support the day that they turn 19, and it shouldn't be, you know, like, we should be providing...

Thank you. Yes, I would like to see that, you know, that data. That's it for this part, this section. Thank you.

Okay, well, the fuel subsidy program, the senior home heating subsidy program is very important for many of our constituents, especially in the small communities, so, yes, I would like to see that review. It would be good so that we can send the message back to our elders. And it's important for them because they're working, you know. Like, they're working, doing work, which is good, but because they need to -- they have to live, you know. They did their job of raising their family all these years, and now we're penalizing them, you know, because they're doing extra work just to stay alive...

Yeah, thank you. Yes, thank you for that information.

You know, in small communities with the high cost of living, there's a lot of elders that are -- you know, they're doing part-time jobs to offset their living just like I know there are some in here too as well, and then, you know, like, the higher North, it's more expensive. But lately I've been getting phone calls from a lot of our citizens, senior citizens, in my region, and the fuel delivery -- fuel subsidy for Wekweeti is $750. For other communities, it's lower. So I just wanted to ask if that $750, for example in Wekweeti, is that for...