Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to speak about the income support which was formerly known as social assistance. Mr. Speaker, we've often been told that the budget will not be balanced on the backs of the poor; however, I have received several letters from constituents as well as from the Yellowknife Women's Centre indicating that clients who go to the Yellowknife Career Centre are being told that unless children are a factor, no person is eligible for an emergency appointment even though they, themselves, are without food or accommodation. Even if a client with children is considered for an emergency appointment, which means they are either without food or a place to stay, the average delay to receiving any assistance is about two weeks.
The Women's Centre has also been told by some of their clients that people with children are either being told emergency assistance no longer exists or they are denied emergency assistance, even though they have no food for either themselves or their children. Clients have also been told, whether they have children or not and they're seeking a regular appointment with an income support worker, on average they are delayed five to six weeks before they are assisted.
Similarly, clients with or without children who miss appointments are denied assistance until the following month, which means they are unable to pay their rent or buy food and diapers for a period of six weeks to two months.
Mr. Speaker, the Yellowknife Women's Centre is being told by their clients that clients are told to access food at the Yellowknife food bank which is no longer in operation, or at the Salvation Army food bank, until their appointment with an income support worker. The Salvation Army indicates that they generally limit a person's ability to access limited types of food to twice in one month, and they only provide food for a couple of days at a time.
Numerous clients have also complained that the receptionist at the front desk of the Career Centre is rude, abusive and obstructive in her behaviour. The Women's Centre has also been informed that appointments with income support workers are often scheduled mid-month, even if clients book ahead. Therefore, they aren't able to meet the legal requirements of paying rent at the 1st of the following month, which leaves them open for eviction by landlords.
Mr. Speaker, the Women's Centre has also been informed that students on income support who attend Aurora College from the communities outside of Yellowknife and have had airfare provided by their families to go home for Easter break, have had that amount of money deducted from income support which left them unable to pay for rent or food for themselves or their children.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.