Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment questions on the seniors home heating subsidy that I raised earlier in my Member’s statement. One of the issues I had was when an elder had applied and the issue was that her daughter was staying with her and couldn’t get her income tax assessment and the alternative is to find another means for her to declare that she didn’t work the previous year. What avenues can we look at that situation?
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. This has been brought to our attention within my department and we did raise this issue in the House yesterday. I’ve committed in the House that I’d like my department to look at this area and how we get around it so that the elders are not penalized. We talked about the residence issues where individuals may be there for short periods of time. We also talked about other areas where elders are probably 90 years old and more, and how we can get around the system. I will follow through with this within my department.
Another issue is who determines who lives in the household. Another instance of where the nephew comes in two or three times a month and not every month and they’re saying that he’s actually a resident of that house. I need the definition of a resident, because I don’t believe that’s residency at all. I’d like to ask the Minister if the department will look at that or at least provide me with a definition of residency.
That would include us looking at the whole issue about the seniors home heating subsidy. When we talk about the residents, these individuals where they sleep and eat. These individuals have been considered that they’re staying at their grandparents’ place. Those are areas that have been brought to our attention that they don’t actually live there. We need to look at the policy itself.
Those two issues, I’d certainly like to follow up with the Minister. He spoke about reviewing the Income Support Policy. Is it specific to the seniors home heating subsidy or else is it the whole income support programming that they have? Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, with any request that comes forward to our attention, we do look at our policies and we make changes to the effect where it benefits the communities. This is an area respecting the seniors fuel subsidy. I made a commitment to look at that piece of work. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Final supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.
I certainly support a review of the program guidelines and criteria. I think what people were really saying to me is there’s got to be some flexibility when you’re evaluating this criteria and not just be so stern and be by the book. That’s what the people are looking for. I’d like to ask the Minister: can he direct his department to start to have a heart there, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, this is an area that is always before us every fall time and the winter season. We prepare our client service officers to deal with this matter in advance. As I stated, whenever there is a challenge or issues that are being brought to our attention, we work on the policy and if we need to change the policy. If that’s the case, I will give the Members a heads-up. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.
