Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to speak about my concerns with the lack of education and about the income support appeals process. In most communities, there is an income support appeals committee, but in some communities, there is not. There is not enough education of the people in the communities about the right to appeal income support decisions. In the communities with no appeal committee, many applicants are completely unaware of how to go about making an appeal, if they are not satisfied with the outcome. There is not enough information known in regard to the appeals process in most communities, where most applicants are totally unaware. Income support applicants and recipients should be aware of how to go about filing an appeal, should the need arise.

Therefore, I would like to express my concern in the whole process of how community residents are educated on the appeal process. I feel the department could make greater efforts to educate people in the communities in the process dealing with appeals. Perhaps they could inform residents through radio or posters, including an appeal statement in the newspaper where someone could help them through the process, anything to help educate them on how to fill out their appeals. With the large degree of difficulties in the appeals process, Mr. Speaker, I understand the concerns those people have, as they are only given seven days to file an appeal. I believe they could be better informed about the process when they appeal income support decisions. With that, Mr. Speaker, I will be asking the Premier a question on this matter.