Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to raise an issue that comes around about this time of year, every year almost. As long as I've been a Member of this Assembly it comes out. This time of year brings about many changes; changes in the colour of our environment from green to red to yellow and soon to white as the snow covers the ground. But, Mr. Speaker, along with that it seems that an annual mailing or seniors that go into the income support offices to apply for seniors' fuel subsidies get their application forms and have to fill them out.

Mr. Speaker, it's been brought to my attention that these forms have become increasingly more difficult to fill out and understood by many of the seniors who own their own homes. If you're not a high school graduate or have a degree in something or another, it's difficult to go through these forms.

Mr. Speaker, I have had an opportunity to review these forms with seniors and, indeed, it would take quite a bit of effort to go through the whole process to make sure you qualify. In fact, they've been signing the documents to say that if you have not put the accurate information down you're liable. Mr. Speaker, not only do seniors in small communities find this a concern, it's almost like an insult that we're not taking their word for granted. Now there are cases, Mr. Speaker, that probably brought this to the department so that they had to address it in these forms, but, Mr. Speaker, I think we've gone too far. We've made it too difficult for seniors to go through these forms to qualify for the fuel subsidy.

So, Mr. Speaker, I have questions for the appropriate Minister, but I'd like them to consider that they look at why they're doing these forms and making it even more difficult. Is it in fact so that they can save more money? So that they don't have to give more funds out to seniors who own their own homes? That it's so difficult that they feel like it's not worth going through the hassle? Or is it just because they're trying to curb some misuse of those funds? I'll have a question for the appropriate Minister. Thank you.

---Applause