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 different programs and two different governments, one federal and one territorial, but from the perspective of parents and single parents trying to make ends meet in our small communities, it seems like this government is giving with one hand and taking with the other. What is the point of that, Mr. Speaker? As one of my constituents said, the money from the Child Tax Benefit is meant for milk and Pampers, not rent.
I cannot imagine that the savings to the GNWT of clawing back the Child Tax Benefit amounts to very much. However, for the families who are affected by this change, it means less money every month for groceries, diapers, kids’ clothing and shoes.
I will be asking our government, through the Premier, when they will put an end to this outrageous clawback. Leave the Child Tax Benefit alone. Leave it with our low-income parents that need it. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
