Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have provided the Member with the results of the surveys he requested. For food rates for a family of four in Mr. Ningark's riding, specifically Pelly Bay, before October 1, 1992 it was $173 and after October 1, 1993, it was $170. So there is a difference of $3. That is all for now.

Item 5, oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Social Services. Mr. Speaker, the Minister

has indicated the food cost survey was conducted by the Bureau of Statistics. As a result, it appears, particularly in the Kitikmeot region, this has resulted in a decrease of funding for social assistance food allowance. Since this has been a concern, I'd like to say to the Minister, at the very least, we believe the food allowances should have stayed the same and not decreased. Will she look at these new food rates that have been approved by her department as of October 1, and increase the food allowances, particularly in the communities that have been decreased? Thank you.

Minister Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think there were two questions in one. I definitely will have the department look them over again and provide the Member with the results. According to the results, the costs will be applied. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Speaker, I recognize the Minister said she would have the department look at it, but if she would take a moment and decide to look at the issue at hand. We have three communities, particularly in the Kitikmeot region, that have absorbed the decrease in the food allowance. We have other communities that have had substantial increases in the food allowance, particularly in the communities of Colville Lake, Paulatuk and other areas that have increased in the scales. I think they have increased by five scales, according to social assistance food scales. I'd like to ask the Minister once more, whether she would review this to, at the very least, maintain the food allowances for the Kitikmeot region. Thank you.

That's really two questions, Mrs. Marie-Jewell. Minister Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just a few days ago I said yes, I will review the rates. I thought when I gave the direction to the department to look into the cost of the food in the communities, that I was being fair. I think I would be supported in the majority of the communities out there. Out in the communities I really feel I have the support from them. When I decided and gave the instruction to the department to increase the rates based on the food costs in the communities, I thought I did the right thing. It would not be fair of the communities, who may have lower food cost rates, to have the same increases as the other communities, who may need it more. I will look into this, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Speaker, whether the Minister has support in the communities is one issue, but we're bringing up a totally different issue. I want to ask the Minister how she can justify, in her social assistance food rates, increasing the community of Colville Lake from scale five, prior to October, 1993, to scale ten, effective October, 1993; the community of Paulatuk from scale eight, prior to October, 1993, to scale ten, effective October, 1993; and, at the same time, decrease Gjoa Haven, Pelly Bay and Taloyoak to lower scales when we know that the cost of food certainly doesn't decrease. Can the Minister justify, in this House, changes of the food scales that her department implemented effective in October? Thank you.

Minister Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will instruct the department to reinstate the $3.00 difference for the community of Pelly Bay, and how much ever else there is difference in the other communities. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Further on the issue of food allowances, will the Minister of Social Services acknowledge that the present food allowance rates, even with the cost of living increase that's been discussed in this House, still only cover between 50 and 70 per cent of the cost of a nutritious food basket? Thank you.

Minister Mike.

Mr. Speaker, is he asking me my personal opinion, or as the Minister? He is asking me if I will acknowledge this. As the Minister responsible, I know the food basket is never up to par up here. You know that. Thank you.

I will remind Ministers that they are aware of the facts that are available to them from their officials, either the Speaker or Members aren't always aware of that. So, it's up to the Minister to know whether those facts remain available to the Ministers. Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, thank you. The Minister, I believe, has acknowledged the fact that the food allowance rates presently in place in the Northwest Territories, even with the recently announced increases, only cover, in some cases, half and up to 70 per cent of the amount needed to provide nutritious food for families in the Northwest Territories. So I would like to ask the Minister, is it her priority, as Minister of

Social Services, to address this serious nutritional disparity in preparing the budget for the Department of Social Services for the coming fiscal year? Thank you.

Minister Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, the responsibility of Social Services is to look after families and the children who are in need.

Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, with respect, I didn't ask the Minister, is it the responsibility of the Minister of Social Services to look after families and children in need. That was the question she answered. What I asked was -- and I'll use up another supplementary asking it again and I'll try to put it in different words -- does the Minister intend to make it a priority in preparing the budget for the coming fiscal year, to address the shortfall in nutritious food baskets in the present social assistance rates? Thank you.

Minister Mike.