Thank you, Mr. Picco. Mr. Speaker, I know that the territorial old-age supplement is now under review, and I heard Mr. Dent say yesterday that the food allowance levels for social assistance are also under review. Mr. Speaker, as I have come to understand it from my committee work, the territorial budget is a living thing. It is possible to have such things as supplementary funding or special warrants to make adjustments in the budget, even after it has been passed by this House.
I understand that the review of the territorial seniors' supplement and other income support payment is not expected to be completed until June. It is reasonable that the Minister and his officials should have some time to plan this out so it is done properly. I would like to see them take into account the differences in the cost of living when they review the territorial income supplement. I also agree with the point made by my colleague, Mr. Barnabas, yesterday, that the cost of living should be taken into account in figuring out how much the food allowance part of social assistance payments should be. So I will wait until June, Mr. Speaker.
I want to thank Members for supporting my motion in Committee of the Whole the other day that these amounts should be reviewed. I was very happy to have the support of all Members of this House for that motion. I guess I should have noted on the record when that motion was passed, that the vote was unanimous. I was also grateful that my colleague from Yellowknife North and chair of the Government Operations committee, Mr. Erasmus, expressed his strong support for the motion.