Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, here in the NWT, we continue to work hard to ensure that our Income Assistance Program meets the needs of low-income NWT residents. Through regular program reviews, we demonstrate our willingness and commitment to ensure that we have the best program in all of Canada.
Mr. Speaker, as evidence of this commitment, we have raised benefit levels on several occasions over the past several years to address public concerns about the effects of inflation on benefit levels and the adequacy of the support that we provide. We have made strategic investments in our food, clothing, shelter and utility benefits. And we have done so for persons with disabilities, for seniors and for families. Through these investments and the program's focus on helping people make productive choices in their lives, we demonstrate our willingness and desire to help people move from a life of dependence to one of self-reliance.
Over the next several months, Mr. Speaker, the department is once again planning to assess the food benefit that it provides, which includes a personal care allowance for program participants. We are also working closely with Members of this House on changing the way in which we treat the various types of income that our clients receive.
Mr. Speaker, while we have made great strides in terms of benefit levels and on the appropriate treatment of income, one of the greatest challenges that we continue to face is in ensuring that low-income families receive services in a coordinated manner from this government.
To that end, Mr. Speaker, staff from the departments of Education, Culture and Employment, Health and Social Services, Justice and the NWT Housing Corporation have been working on ways to improve the service that they provide to their mutual clients. The department continues to work cooperatively on initiatives with other government departments. These initiatives involve improving the ways in which we provide programs and services to our seniors, to persons with disabilities and to the homeless.
Mr. Speaker, because of our willingness and commitment to improve the benefits and service that we provide, we have developed a program that has had considerable success in helping people move from a life of dependence to one of self-reliance. The number of people requiring income assistance has fallen by almost 40 percent in recent years, and our employment rate has risen to over 73 percent. Our unemployment rate stands at 6.2 percent -- the best in the country.
Mr. Speaker, despite this success, I recognize that much still needs to be done, especially in our smaller communities. We need to provide better support and work more closely with the community organizations that provide an invaluable service to our people. We need to continue our efforts on helping people move toward a life of independence.
Our program clients, our advocacy organizations, our community partners, and Members of this House share in the success I speak about here today. It is through their input and yours that we have, and will continue to have, the best Income Assistance Program in Canada.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
-- Applause