I have a couple of questions for the Minister of Finance. As part of the budget yesterday...I’ll back up. Some months ago this Assembly passed a motion from Regular Members which stated that a milk subsidy should be incorporated into the activities of this government. It’s well known that milk is an extremely healthful food and an excellent part of a preventative diet for children in particular.
I’d like to ask the Minister of Finance, since there was no mention of the milk subsidy in the budget address yesterday, whether or not a milk subsidy for children from zero to age 12, for instance, will be included in the activities in our 2009-2010 finances.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Premier, Mr. Roland.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The motion that was passed by the Assembly was looked at. The Department of Education, Culture and Employment along with the FMB reviewed the numbers and looked at that and looked at what options were available throughout our existing structure that we have in place, for example, our Income Support Program, and that was the avenue that was chosen to do any work that would cover off the basics for those who need most. As well, we tried to focus on other initiatives to bring the cost of living down in our smaller communities.
I appreciate the answer. It doesn’t really go to the point of the motion passed by the Members on this side of the House. I believe that the government is trying to reduce the cost of living, but I think that one of the ways that it’s going to be done is to try to provide commercial power subsidy and that is intended to reduce the cost of living for goods and services. I guess I would need to ask the Minister or the Premier when we can expect to see this kind of reduction in the cost of living in concrete actual programs, when it’s going to be on the ground and in effect such that it’s going to affect the cost of living for food for residents in our communities.
I wouldn’t want to put words in the Finance Minister’s mouth on this matter, but my understanding as we work through this, as the Member has stated, that a commercial subsidy is being reviewed. They are prepared to go to committee on what structure they’ll put in place to see how that would be passed on to try to ensure it would be passed on to the people who live in our communities through that structure. I don’t have a timeline. I will have the Minister of Finance prepare a response for the Member.
That’s, unfortunately, the answer that I was expecting. Our communities need assistance now. We need a program that can be put in place sooner rather than later. I feel that yes, I’m appreciative we’re going to be consulted on this particular program of a power subsidy, if that’s what it is, but that’s going to take months. Literally months. Probably a year at least before it’s in place. A milk subsidy is a targeted program and it is one that I think can actually be put in place within a matter of a short few months and probably could be in place for the first of April at the beginning of this next fiscal year. I would like to ask the Minister whether or not this government puts a priority on assisting our residents in their communities and, if so, why this milk subsidy was not considered as a project that could be put in place in a very short period of time.
There is ongoing work around our subsidy programs that deals with families in need across the Territories. The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment has an ongoing review of their program and the cost of living in our communities and look at making adjustments throughout the year. As for the commercial subsidy issue of when that timing will come forward, as I stated, I’ll have the Minister of FMBS and Finance come up with a response and provide that to committee. There is ongoing work on our subsidy programs that we have in place that helps offset the cost of living today in communities.
Thank you, Mr. Roland. Final supplementary, Ms. Bisaro.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess I need to ask the Minister what this government is going to have in place as of April 1st, 2009, that is going to be of benefit to the people in our communities to reduce their food costs.
The first fundamental program we have in place for families in need would be through our Income Security Program. That food basket is looked at and reviewed by the Department of Education, Culture and Employment throughout the year. I don’t have the timing of exactly when that next review and adjustments will happen, but that budget is adjusted, they do review on the cost of living of our communities and adjust on that basis.
For the commercial subsidy piece and how that goes out, as I’ve committed, the Minister of Finance and FMBS will respond to the Member on that issue.
