Mr. Speaker, my motion simply recommended a review of the seniors' monthly supplement from the GNWT with a view to increasing this monthly payment so as to at least keep up to the cost of living.
Mr. Speaker, while doing my research to prepare for the motion I presented in Committee of the Whole, I was fortunate to meet Mrs. Esther Braden, president of the NWT Seniors' Society. Mrs. Braden told me that this concern has been brought up at all the recent meetings of the society, by representatives from various parts of the NWT. Mr. Speaker, I will be suggesting to Members of this Assembly that we should invite Mrs. Braden to make a presentation to us, either in Caucus or in this Assembly, on what advice our seniors would give us about this budget. I would like to hear their recommendations on how the lives of our valued and respected seniors in the NWT could be improved. I am grateful that our government is providing funds to allow this organization to meet once or twice a year, and I know that there is a seniors' help line on a 1-800 number that can be dialled free.
I was also pleased to hear the recent announcement from the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation, the Honourable Goo Arlooktoo, that there will be a new program to help with seniors' housing needs. However, what I am concerned about is reviewing the level of the seniors' supplementary pension funding. I will very much look forward to hearing the results of the review.
I have some other comments about the budget, Mr. Speaker.
Firstly, I want to acknowledge that I have recently received several petitions asking for public debate on the subject of MLAs' compensation. Our rules do not allow that debate to take place at this time in our Assembly, but I'd like to say a few words on this. First of all, I can tell you that the subject of MLAs' wages and benefits was not an issue of concern in the election campaign in Baffin Central. I do not recall anyone asking me about that or raising it as a concern. I know that there are some people who are concerned that MLAs are making too much, especially when their wages and benefits, or even their jobs, are being cut. I have met with nurses, teachers and other government employees in my constituency who have faced sharp increases in their staff housing rents, who have been forced to pay for utilities, even though they have no other choice as to where they live. Recently, some of them have lost a sizable tax-free benefit which is considered part of their income and has been often used to buy equipment such as an outboard motor, skidoo or boat to take the family out on the land, not for a recreation trip to Montreal.
So I understand that concern, Mr. Speaker. I have made many statements in this House trying to explain the situation of government employees in my communities. Mr. Speaker, they have extended families. They are already stretched to the limit financially. It hurts me that it is the people with large families who are most affected by the cuts to wages and benefits of the non-unionized employees. I am concerned when I see examples of single persons or couples without children who are actually coming out further ahead financially than they were before, considering the impact of these cuts. This is not fair, Mr. Speaker. This is not equitable. This is not what Mr. Picco calls "fairity."