Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker in response to the Member's question, the department has been working with other departments including the Department of Finance to try to address this particular situation. It appears that because it is a rebate there is some requirement for the people involved to actually apply for a rebate on an annual basis. I know the department has included on the back of the invoices, there is a statement on the back of the invoice advising whoever is getting the bill that they are entitled to a rebate if they apply for it. Also, they have the ability to apply even before they actually make payments under taxes. They have the ability to apply for a rebate. Therefore they do not have to come up with the money, that they can have a rebate anyway. Also, Mr. Speaker, the department is working with the social committee to try to come up with some form of plan to put all the programs that seniors would be exempt from into one. However, right now we are still in the planning stage and we are working with the social committee on this plan, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is the problem with the rebate program is that you have to apply for it every year and I think that is where the concerns of the seniors are. Is there a better system that say, instead of having to apply every year that automatically once you become a pensioner, I mean you are not going to get any younger, you are eventually going to get older, so once you receive your pension you should be automatically put into the system. Rebates for programs such as your property tax assessment and your fuel subsidy, should be automatically given every year. That is what I am asking, is there a possibility of automatically having these programs given to all the seniors in the western territory automatically without having to go through the rebate?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The department, like I said, is in the process of trying to address this particular issue. We are working with the social committee, we are working with all the departments, we are open to any suggestions from the communities or from the Members as to how to address this particular situation. I am told there are some legalities involved here where there may be a requirement for people to actually apply for rebates because it is a rebate. It is therefore hard to tie it in with other programs that are not rebates. We are not sure if we can streamline this all into one, but we are in the process of trying to plan and find a way to address this position. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one of the suggestions that I put forth in my Member's statement is the possibility, through the Department of Justice and the Minister's Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, to come up with a consent form process where the senior automatically will consent to have their name renewed every year and any information that is relevant to the program, the government will be able to access that information through a consent form process so you do not have to go through this process year after year. Has the department considered looking at such a proposal as a means of making this system a little easier?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the proposal, as suggested by the Member or any proposal, for that matter, will be taken into consideration by the department. If there are any benefits to the proposals, we will certainly include them in whatever the outcome of the plan is. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister made reference to the possibility of having people call the department with suggestions and maybe even look at public meetings. Is the department willing to consider maybe a 1-800 line so that they can take suggestions from seniors instead of going through the process of public meetings so that seniors can have a say in how they would like the program developed? Is the Minister willing to consider that process for consultation?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we will consider all proposal and all suggestions from the

Members or from the communities or from the general public, and we will use whatever proposals are put forward that would, in fact, address the issue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.