Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. I rise with my colleagues to speak on the seniors’ issues that are very important to us all. Over the course of this budget session I have raised this issue and many others until my voice is hoarse.
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Firstly, constituents who have their elderly parents refused the seniors home heating subsidy believe that our system is broken. Aboriginal seniors in our small and remote communities are faced with government guidelines, procedures and rules, which are often difficult to interpret and understand. Myself and my colleagues look forward to the review of the Income Support Program that the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment spoke about and I hope that it is more streamlined for our elders in the small and remote communities. Show some flexibility for those who wish to stay with the seniors who are there to support, as our government should.
I have also spoken about the NWT Housing Corporation not having senior-specific programming that will take care of their needs. They have been lumped in with everybody else for much needed programs. Also, I take issue that our seniors are not eligible for NWT Housing programs if they exhaust all existing programming.
I’d like to thank my colleagues who supported me last week for a motion to support seniors’ targeted-specific programming with the NWT Housing Corporation. I look to our government to take these concerns seriously and I’d love to see action on these issues this coming summer. Mahsi cho.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.
