Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to take a moment to welcome back my fellow Members to your capital city.
Mr. Speaker, I have stated both in this House and to my constituents that cuts this government makes must be done fairly. Mr. Speaker, today I wish to elaborate on this. I was very upset to hear of the cuts to the seniors' fuel subsidy program. Seniors who are not on income support will no longer be eligible for this subsidy. It is unfair that those who have sacrificed to pay for their homes now have to pay more by losing this subsidy. Seniors are telling me that the ones that had been responsible and have taken precautions to provide for their future are the ones getting hit.
This government has also targeted in the last round of cuts, those who own their own homes by eliminating $1 million from the homeowners' property tax rebate program which meant a homeowner could claim back up to $300 on their property taxes. The vast majority of this cut in programming was absorbed by three communities. It is those that have paid already who end up bearing the burden. This is not fair. Everyone has to take the responsibility to contribute whether they are at the top or at the bottom of the scale.
The message has to be delivered that everyone contributed to our debt so everyone has to pay. We are giving a message that if you pay your taxes and make provisions for your retirement, we will target you. So if you do not look after yourself, that is okay. This government will take care of you with no responsibility or obligation. Mr. Speaker, that is wrong.
Employee cuts in the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation regional office send the same wrong message. Eight jobs were eliminated in the North Slave regional office. No other regional offices are seeing these types of job cuts. The offices in Yellowknife, we are told, are more efficient so they get the job cuts. Mr.
Speaker, this is wrong. We are penalizing them for being efficient. This is not fair. All regional offices have to also get the message. The message could be communicated by depleting some of their resources, but, instead, they are left relatively untouched.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to finish my statement.