Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I had hoped to make a statement on the plight of our disabled residents in the Northwest Territories and especially Hay River. I feel a little disabled myself today because I have not had the time to put into this Member's statement what I had wanted to because of the length of our sessions and the number of meetings we have been having. I think it is important that I do mention the plight of these disabled people.

Mr. Speaker, there has been a committee formed in Hay River comprised of residents with disabilities. They felt this was necessary in order to have their needs addressed. Mr. Speaker, they do have many needs that we as a government have to be aware of and prepared to deal with.

In Hay River, Mr. Speaker, there are many buildings that are not handicapped or wheelchair accessible. In some cases, people with disabilities have a hard time accessing the medical services that they require and, Mr. Speaker, some of them need very special treatment.

Mr. Speaker, Hay River is the only tax-based municipality in the Northwest Territories that does not offer people with disabilities any property tax relief. The Town of Hay River, Mr. Speaker, and this government cannot seem to come to an understanding or an agreement as to who and how the subsidies should be administered.

Also, Mr. Speaker, the fuel subsidy program for seniors that is administered by the Department of Education, Culture and Employment is not offered to people with disabilities who own their own homes. Mr. Speaker, I believe it is high time, in view of the skyrocketing fuel prices, that we offer persons with disabilities some badly needed assistance. In this way, we could help them help themselves and, in a lot of cases, feel a lot better about themselves.

Mr. Speaker, this is not acceptable, given that approximately 80 percent of our people in the Northwest Territories with disabilities have a personal income of less than $20,000. Of this group, 48 percent have a personal income of less than $10,000. I would think surely that we as a government would not be adverse to helping this segment of our society. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause