Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a copy of it here now. I think if we do not put the emphasis on "a" male perpetrator. We said that there were 436 reported incidents of spousal assault by a male perpetrator. That might need some clarification. In each of the 436 cases, it was a male perpetrator. We do have statistics on acts of violence perpetrated by females as well but that was not in the statement. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, following along my earlier question on the seniors' fuel subsidy, and knowing that now it is clearly identified that the Minister responsible for Seniors is the one we should work through as well, my question is to the Minister responsible for Seniors. Is he working with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment? Seeing that there has been no increase in the seniors' fuel subsidy, is he working with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment to have that amount increased, to offset the increased costs of seniors owning their own homes? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, could I have the Member repeat his question? I am going through my briefing book here.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know we have to get accustomed to this directing questions. The Minister has a new responsibility in this Assembly but it has been clearly identified today in questions that issues regarding seniors should be channelled through the Minister responsible for Seniors. That is my understanding. In my earlier question to the Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, there has not been an increase in the seniors fuel subsidy for more than five years. I am asking the Minister responsible for Seniors if he is working with the Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment to have the seniors' fuel subsidy increased. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as the Minister responsible for Seniors, if I receive questions of this nature from the general public, or concerns expressed of this nature from the general public, I would direct them to the appropriate departments. There have been some questions in the past from seniors in different areas in the Northwest Territories about specifically increasing the amount of fuel subsidy. However, I have never had the opportunity or reason to question the program as it is being delivered by Education. I redirect those people to bring their concerns to the appropriate department. I also advise them that if they still have a problem as to getting satisfactory results, satisfactory answers, that I would use my Ministry as a direct avenue to the appropriate Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, understanding that process, and again, as stated earlier, constituents also use Members to bring issues to the table. This is what I am doing here. I have received calls from seniors saying that once again, the winter season is upon us, the costs are going through the roof, and I am requesting first, of the Minister responsible for Education, Culture, and Employment. I did not feel that he gave me an adequate response in my last question, so now I am going to ask the Minister responsible for Seniors if he will, on behalf of seniors in the Northwest Territories, request the Department of Education, Culture and Employment increase the amount of seniors' fuel subsidy that is available to them. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do not know if it would be appropriate for me as a Minister responsible for Seniors to request the Department of Education, Culture and Employment increase the seniors' subsidy for fuel. I would pass that on to him as a request from concerned citizens. I am sure that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment has programs they review on an annual basis with the standing committees to see if there is a need and if we can afford to increase the subsidies.

I do pass on the requests when and if we receive them but I do not accompany those with a recommendation from myself as a Minister. As a Minister, although I am given to some degree responsibility for seniors to increase their profile and the importance of their programs, I do not take it upon myself to spend another department's funding. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will have to review Hansard as to what the real role of the Minister responsible for Seniors is. I am not asking him to spend money on behalf of another department. I am asking him to bring the concerns of seniors in the Northwest Territories who are impacted by the seniors' fuel subsidy. His support as Minister responsible for Seniors, to go into the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, because that is where the program is under and I understand that. His support to have it increased, that is what I am asking for. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Is he going to lend his support to seniors and request the department to look at increasing it? That is what the question is. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think I am trying to clarify my role here as the Minister responsible for Seniors. I do not have the capability of spending another department's funding. I do not have the opportunity or the resources to review programs as the departments are able to do. However, I do receive these types of concerns not only from individuals, but also from the seniors' society. They are involved to a large degree as to whether or not we increase programs, whether or not we change them or whatever. I cannot respond to the Member and say that I support this program or I do not support this program, the subsidy being increased. I just cannot respond to that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, again, I am not asking the Minister responsible for Seniors to spend another department's dollars. I am asking him as the Minister responsible for Seniors to bring this issue to the Department of Education, Culture and Employment and garner his support in trying to see if Education, Culture and Employment will raise the subsidy limit. That is what I am seeking here. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Member for the question. Mr. Speaker, I am having difficulty getting it across to him that I may support the program and I may support the increase for the subsidies, but it is still the decision of the appropriate department as to whether they will do it or not. I do not know if the Member is suggesting I put my weight as a Minister behind the request, that is fine. I have no problem supporting requests from seniors provided we can afford them and provided the department is in favour of it as well. However, I cannot just on my own make these types of decisions, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question today is for the Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes. Regarding Family Violence Week, one of the things that we know, Mr. Speaker, is that women who are in abusive relationships who do not have gainful employment or are unable to get on income support may be required to go back into abusive relationships that they otherwise would not be sticking around in, Mr. Speaker.

When we talk about productive choices in income support, I am wondering if Mr. Ootes can speak to the fact that women raising children at home can receive income support if their child is three years old or younger, but not if they are over three years old. Is that the case, Mr. Speaker?