Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My written question today is for the Minister of Education, Culture, and Employment. In view of the recognition that the assistance to seniors, and programs to seniors are inconsistent and that a study is being undertaken, I am wondering what defence and justification can be offered for such inconsistency which would result in the unfair treatment of some seniors, and in fact, discrimination against seniors trying to live independently in their own homes. We have heard recently in this house, that there is going to be a one year postponement put on the implementation of phase three of the rent scale, because its deemed to require further assessment and study, because it may be imposing financial hardship on low to middle income families. I do not how much revenue this government is forfeiting by such a postponement, but in light of the department's admission of the need to review support to seniors, why does the same principle of postponement not apply?

Why has the department taken such a hard line with respect to a program affecting such a cherished and respected sector of our society who have worked hard, make our communities richer and more balanced places to live, and citizens who may not have the physical ability to go out and find ways of supplementing their usually fixed and modest incomes. Why has the department taken such a hard line? Thank you.