Thank you, Mr. Speaker-elect. Certainly, the cost of living is an issue that is raised by everybody who I talk to, and it's a large part of the reason that people are complaining. Certainly, I think it's very inequitable that in Aklavik the cost of gasoline is $1.99 and here in Yellowknife it's $1.09.
As a government, we provide fuel services in communities where there is no commercial provider of fuel. In Aklavik there is a commercial provider, and I think that if we were to deal with that we'd have to change our policy and recognize that it is a unique situation and it's a high cost to bear, and certainly, we would be prepared to look at the specific situation.
On the overall cost of living, I think that we need to review our food baskets so that we can make sure that we are providing for them on an equitable basis. When Prime Minister Trudeau wrote to us about what we could do about the high cost of living, he indicated they are prepared to increase the northern resident tax deduction by 33 percent, or 32 percent. Certainly, we would want to follow up to take him up on that offer, and I think that that would significantly benefit the Northwest Territories. In past dealings with trying to find solutions for the cost of living and dealing with industry, everybody said the best way to reduce the cost of living is through taxation, and certainly, with the northern resident tax deduction, that could be done.
The Nutrition North is also another federal program, and the federal government has indicated they are prepared to increase the number of communities they provide it to and also increase the amount of money they provide by $40 million over four years. I'm sure there are other opportunities to reduce the cost of living, but those are the ones we've thought of so far.