Mr. Speaker, I have a return to written question asked by Mr. Roger T. Allen on May 27, 2004, regarding income support clients.

The power given to income support workers to deny a client income assistance comes from the Social Assistance Act and regulations. Under the act, section 4, the director appoints social welfare officers to perform prescribed duties:

s.4 The director may appoint any person in the Territories to be a social welfare officer for the areas that may be designated in the appointment to perform the duties and functions that are prescribed.

Section 16(q) allows these duties to be set out in regulation:

s.16 On the recommendation of the Minister, the Commissioner may make regulations that the Commissioner considers necessary to carry out the provisions of this act and, without limiting the generality of this power to make regulations, may make regulations...

(q) prescribing the duties and functions of social welfare officers.

Under the social assistance regulations, "application for assistance," section 7, states:

s.7 An officer shall refuse assistance to any applicant whom the officer determines is not a person in need, and the applicant shall be informed in writing of the refusal and the reason for the refusal within 24 hours of the refusal.

All applicants who disagree with the decision of an officer respecting the granting, refusal, suspension, reduction or amount of social assistance have the right to appeal.

I have provided a detailed response letter to the Honourable David Krutko, MLA, Mackenzie Delta, and have copied Mr. Allen, explaining the situation and what actions are being taken regarding his constituent.