Mr. Speaker, thank you. With respect to the situation in the town of Iqaluit, I would like to acknowledge a letter I received from the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, while I was meeting with the Standing Committee on Finance yesterday. I want to reaffirm with Mr. Allooloo that it is possible to get hold of a Member in committee. I thank you for the letter which offers to provide me with a detailed briefing of the situation which I will take up. I also note that the Minister will take my advice on the appointment of an advisory committee.
Mr. Speaker, today I wish to address another area of concern, however. I know the Government of the Northwest Territories would prefer to think that the town of Iqaluit is the main culprit in the financial problems which have arisen. However, today I wish to draw Members' attention to failings of the government to meet their legal and moral obligations to the town. These failings, in my view, have aggravated the town's financial problems flowing from the land debenture affair.
For example, it was only after I raised questions in this House earlier this year that a payment of $833,000 -- which had long been owing to the town and which had been carried by the town -- that was owed under the social services agreement, was finally paid. In talking to the town of Iqaluit prior to the dissolution of the council, I understand that by December of this year, once again, the deficit of social services program costs is expected to reach $480,000. The town does not have the funds required to pay social assistance recipients for the month of December.
MACA had agreed as well that the town of Iqaluit would not bear increased costs as a result of the shutdown this year of the high temperature hot water system. Yet, DPW and MACA have nonetheless billed the town for these costs which now amount to about $300,000. Mr. Speaker, I will be pursuing the matter of some $800,000, currently being carried by the few ratepayers of the town, through written questions. Thank you.