Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I received a call just lately from an 80-year-old elder who is living in her own home, who is struggling to keep up with the increased rates of diesel fuel and power. I think it is important to realize the cost to fill up your tank with diesel fuel in Fort McPherson is $700. When you are on a pension, that is unacceptable.

Mr. Speaker, we have put initiatives in place to assist our elders who live in their own homes. We encourage them to continue to live in their own homes. However, with the high cost of power, the high cost of property taxes, and with the cost of fuel in our communities, our elders are finding it unbearable to maintain their own homes and also have a lifestyle where they can live in comfort, knowing they have done their time and they have paid their dues.

Mr. Speaker, this government has put programs in place to assist our elders, yet this 80-year-old elder continues to pay her property taxes. Mr. Speaker, we as a government have to ensure the programs and services we have out there are being administered. We have to make the attempt to find a mechanism so elders do not have to phone their MLAs to find out why they are still paying their property taxes, or why are they not receiving their seniors' fuel subsidy, or why their property taxes have been adjusted or increased, yet they continue to pay out of their pension cheques.

Mr. Speaker, I think it is important that this government streamline our tax systems or subsidized systems, so people do not have to continue year after year to have the confusion of getting a tax notice in the mail, especially our elders. They do not like to be stuck in a situation where they have an outstanding bill or fee, knowing they may not have the money to survive next month. Or they are out of fuel and have no choice but to fill up their tanks, yet it comes out of their pension cheques.

Mr. Speaker, I will be asking the Minister of MACA questions on this matter to see exactly how we are streamlining our subsidy programs for our elders. Thank you.

-- Applause