Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the wallets of all the Northwest Territories residents have been hit hard by the rising cost of energy. Over the past year, we have watched as the cost of heating fuel for our homes goes up over 30 percent. The price of gasoline for our vehicles, snowmobiles and boats has skyrocketed as well. The cost for transporting food, clothing and other items into our communities has increased. The cost of a family to travel by airplane, or by other means of transportation from our communities, has become unaffordable.
Mr. Speaker, these high costs of living do not discriminate. It is affecting all residents of the Northwest Territories equally. It is time for something to be done to get relief to the citizens of the Northwest Territories, Mr. Speaker. Presently, the GNWT has a hodgepodge of subsidy programs in place to give some relief to Northerners. However, given the drastic increase in costs of energy over the past year, the subsidy programs have not kept pace with the soaring energy costs.
The low-income people have been hit the hardest. Rising costs have driven more and more families into poverty. Mr. Speaker, the government needs to take immediate action and develop a comprehensive energy program to supply relief to our residents. This program should not focus on just heating fuel. It should address the high cost of transportation of goods and tackle the costs for a family to travel to and from communities. Mr. Speaker, the program should deal with the cost of gasoline.
Mr. Speaker, I am convinced that this program should be a rebate program, a rebate that is given directly to the consumer. The money should go into the pockets of all of our residents. If the program is set up in such a way that the rebate or subsidy is given to a supplier, I am not so confident that benefits will flow down to the consumer. The money would just remain in the pockets of the supplier. Further, we should have a program where there is no clawback.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.