Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one of the most cherished resources that we have is our elders. We've always looked up to them for wisdom, encouragement, and also for support. Yet, Mr. Speaker, one of the alarming things that I found during the break from the last sitting to being here today is that our elders in our communities, especially the ones who are living by themselves and trying to maintain their own home are struggling just to make ends meet. Yet, Mr. Speaker, programs and services that this government delivers by way of fuel subsidies and home support programs are not really meeting the goal that we set, to improve the quality of life for seniors in their homes, in their communities, and in the North.
Mr. Speaker, we spend a lot of dollars and resources on the renewable resources sector with regards to the diamond industry and oil and gas, yet, Mr. Speaker, the resource that we're very much depleting and not taking the advantage of ensuring that the quality of life of our seniors has been considered.
Mr. Speaker, I've raised questions in this House previously regarding the seniors' fuel subsidy. I've been waiting for an answer back from the Minister responsible on this, knowing that the system that they use is unjust, it is not fair, and it does not really meet the requirement of the program.
Mr. Speaker, again I'd like to state, this is a quality of life issue. If we cannot improve the quality of life of our seniors, what are we doing here as legislators? I think we can talk bread and butter issues with regards to what we're doing, but I think we have to see it reflected.
There are a lot of seniors who do not want to take part in public events, sit on public boards, on the band councils, on the local elders' councils, et cetera, because they're penalized for doing that. And if this government is putting in policies that are penalizing our seniors for being active in our communities, there's something wrong with these policies that we're putting in place.
So, Mr. Speaker, with that, I will be asking the Minister responsible for the seniors' fuel subsidy questions on this matter later. Thank you.
---Applause