Thank you, Madam Chair. I will speak to the motion if I am allowed. I believe that after over three years since their last increase, even in these times of financial restraint, we should support at least keeping up with the cost of living for the territorial seniors' supplement. Also, I do not believe that it is fair that seniors in all parts of the NWT should be paid the same amount of money for the territorial seniors' supplement. Even the old-age pension itself, regardless of great differences in the cost of living ... We adjust social assistance payments according to the cost of living. We adjust settlement allowances for employees according to the cost of living. We adjust grants to municipalities according to the cost of living. These variations in the cost of living are another reason for reviewing the adequacy of income support payments to elders.
As far as the territorial seniors' supplement is concerned, I do not need to repeat my Member's statement that I made a few days ago. The bottom line, Madam Chair, is that this amount has not changed since 1992. There are about 1,500 seniors in all parts of the NWT who are very much depending on those monthly payments. They are the seniors who need it the most, since they are either widows or widowers, or people on old-age pension who require the guaranteed income supplement because the pension is the only income they get. My personal hope is that the review will indicate that the monthly supplement should be increased by at least $10 to reflect increases in the cost of living since it was last reviewed.
I would also hope that, even in these difficult times, our government could find a way to support these valued and respected citizens in our communities. Thank you, Madam Chair.