Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member has brought forward a petition that he is going to table later today on child poverty, and I think we are all very concerned about the issue of child poverty in the Northwest Territories.

Our government has recognized that and continues to provide funding increases, Mr. Speaker, in terms of food allowances. We are proposing with this budget that we have just put forward to put more money into the food allowance, which will also take into account other areas of expenditures that are referenced in this petition. We took that into account when we decided that we would move forward with increases in funding, Mr. Speaker.

Over the last year, if we approve this particular budget, we will have increased the amount of funding in this one specific area by approximately $1.1 million. That will go directly into the hands of those on income support. The question of course becomes, does that go down to the children? Are people using that to support their children? Thank you.