Thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker,

Under income support, it is a constant struggle to provide the basic standard of living for a family. I would like to be able to provide proper nutrition for my children with basic items such as fresh fruit, which are normally beyond our means for part of each month, and for this month of June it will be out of the question entirely, as will milk, cheese, diapers, training pants, sanitary napkins, et cetera.

Bills which are now on automatic payment will create havoc in my bank account because funds are not there. Phone and transportation are a regular part of income earning families, but we on this very backward income support system are not allowed to live as regular people.

One hundred dollars for a family of four is not acceptable and I consider this to be government abuse of its residents. Why does the government of the NWT talk about investing in children and yet not address the very real poverty of families?

Five jurisdictions in Canada have now stopped clawing back the NCBS and two jurisdictions allow a parent on income support to keep a portion of child maintenance payments. In the Northwest Territories, we have the highest GDP growth rate in Canada and the highest average incomes. Surely it is time to alleviate poverty and assist the poorest families and children by ending the current clawback policies.

Please consider this an urgent issue now.

Signed a very unrespected resident of the Northwest Territories,

Anne Marie Giroux

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.