Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to follow up on the statement on income security reform made by my colleague, the Honourable Richard Nerysoo.
Madam Speaker, the Minister spoke about the scope of reform. The overall objective of reform is to build a social security system that better integrates social policy, income support, labour market and learning policies and programs. The focus for redesign is not on programs, but on people and will occur with the recognition that people's needs vary according to their individual circumstances and the stage of their lives.
A number of federal programs will be affected by the review. They include but are not limited to: unemployment insurance and labour market programs; the Canada assistance plan; benefits delivered through the tax system such as the child tax credit; vocational rehabilitation of disabled persons; Canada pension plan disability pensions; survivors' and children's benefits; post-secondary education; and, the Canada student loans program. For the Northwest Territories we recognize that our review in terms of linking to federal programming must include social housing rental policy, hunters' and trappers' assistance programs, our employment development and short-term employment programs, student financial assistance program, child day care programs, and there are probably other areas that can be explored. Programs for seniors are not part of the social security reform. They will be addressed separately through the development of a discussion paper later this fall. We must carefully assess the financial impact of change with the knowledge that we will undoubtedly be receiving fewer dollars and that we are going into negotiations soon on a new formula financial arrangement.
Madam Speaker, Canada's social security net is going to change. We must work in partnership to maximize the opportunities to restructure our income security programs to invest in people to allow them to become more productive, self-sufficient and self-reliant. Government, families and individuals all have a responsibility to contribute to building a strong and healthy society. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
---Applause