Thank you, Mr. Chair. There are quite a number of initiatives that this government is undertaking and could be undertaking over the next year.
I will talk about some of the initiatives that have already been started. We are talking about the rental scales. There is a Shelter Policy review being undertaken. There have been initiatives in the past where, no matter how we look at it, you are always better off if you work, so the rental scales have been set up so that if you work you are not penalized because you are living in public housing. That program was in place.
I think that a program of conservation is in place so that people that convert to products that use less energy, they get payback quickly and there are programs that provide assistance by the government.
I think the local economy, people growing their own food and vegetables helps reduce costs. This is something that as a government we are encouraging. In the last government, in the 16th Assembly, largely through the recommendation of the Small and Rural Communities committee, we doubled the contribution for harvesters, so harvesters can go out and harvest the country food. If you had to go and buy all your food at the local grocery store, we estimate that it would cost the government about $30 million. So that is something that we are encouraging.
The electricity review reduced cost in most of the small communities across the Northwest Territories, and also food mail. It is something that helps reduce costs. We want to make sure that it works properly. Thank you, Mr. Chair.