Mr. Speaker, today I received a touching message from an Inuk who works as a school secretary in Pangnirtung. She was writing on behalf of the UNW employees of Attagoyuk School in Pangnirtung.
This young woman told me that she and her fellow workers are already finding it very difficult to live on the pay cheques they are now getting in the Baffin. She stated that food is now extremely expensive, much more than what it was in the past. My constituent also told me that right now she is paying $238 a month rent for her small place, and that starting April 1st, her rent will go up to $600 per month. She is wondering how she will be able to come up with grocery money. She asked whether our government knows how expensive it is to live in the Baffin region. She asked whether the government cares. She asked if our government would prefer that people like her go on welfare. She asked me if I would support employees like her.
Mr. Speaker, I will do my best. Thank you.