Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to speak about the social assistance food allowances. Mr. Speaker, many citizens of the Northwest Territories, many honourable Members of this House, and now recently the Status of Women's Council of the Northwest Territories have voiced their concerns about the current inadequate levels of social assistance food allowances.
As of October, 1992, the social assistance allowances for a basket of food for a family of four people for one month is equivalent to about 60 per cent of the actual cost. This means that a family, theoretically, can only eat for part of a month or do without certain meals or snacks each day. Mr. Speaker, this is unacceptable.
The current Minister of Social Services has stated that there will be no increases in the food allowances in the fiscal year. How does she expect people, especially ones with no other alternatives, to maintain a livelihood at the current food rates? The Status of Women Council states in a recent issues letter, one which I will be tabling later today, "The present system not only condemns recipients to a life-style well below the poverty line, it effectively kills any incentive people may have to help themselves." Mr. Speaker, our people are crying for help and it is up to this government to seriously consider their pleas. Mahsi.