Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address an issue that is very pertinent to a large segment of the population in the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, the group that I am referring to is our seniors. Our seniors population is aging at a very accelerated rate and we can no longer afford to ignore this fact.

By the year 2018, Mr. Speaker, the total number of seniors aged 60 and over in the Northwest Territories is expected to increase to over 7,000. Our seniors population is expected to experience a 180 percent increase. The rate of increase among our seniors population far outweighs the rate of our total population.

Mr. Speaker, we as a government have to work collectively to ensure that there is no reduction in programs and services to seniors as a result of this population growth.

Mr. Speaker, our senior citizens have all worked very hard to be productive members of our society for many years. They have scrimped and saved for years in order to own their own homes. The sense of independence that maintaining their own home provides them is very important to our seniors.

Mr. Speaker, our government has put in place several programs over the last few years that have attempted to address a burgeoning seniors population. One such program, Mr. Speaker, is our Senior Citizens Home Repair Program, administered by Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. Under this program, Mr. Speaker, senior citizens can apply to the Housing Corporation for up to $20,000 in assistance to cover the cost of repairs for improving the condition of their homes.

Mr. Speaker, this aids in making the homes of our senior citizens safer and healthier to live in at the same time as assisting the seniors in maintaining an independent lifestyle.

Mr. Speaker, the financial help that our senior citizens receive from the Housing Corporation comes in the form of a forgivable loan. Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation criteria for eligibility states that in order for the senior citizens to qualify for the Senior Citizens Home Repair Program, they must be 60 years of age and older and have resided in the Northwest Territories for at least five years, one year of which must be continuous prior to their approval.

In addition, Mr. Speaker, the senior citizen must be in core housing need. The client household income cannot exceed the income threshold for their community and the house in which a senior citizen intends to undertake repairs must be owned by them outright.