Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement yesterday I talked about education problems associated with families choosing to relocate to the larger centres. Today, Mr. Speaker, I want to talk about dilemmas families are up against when they choose to reside in very remote locations in the Northwest Territories; the remote locations that do not qualify as a community or are not located within any municipal boundaries. Mr. Speaker, there are families who choose to establish their homesteads in remote locations be it because of sheer enjoyment or economic or employment opportunities, as did Mr. David King, his wife and their six children. Most are located on our Northwest Territories highway system.
Mr. Speaker, I am talking about places like Little Buffalo River village on Highway No. 6, the Buffalo River Junction on Highway No. 5, Checkpoint on Highway No. 1, Blackstone on the Liard Highway No. 7, and Willow River also on Highway No. 1. Mr. Speaker, all of these places do not receive consideration for financial assistance should there be a family living there with children who require education. I feel that this government should develop some type of education assistance, be it gas coupons or monetary assistance, for the school year to assist them with the high transportation costs in getting their children to school every day.
Mr. Speaker, I would encourage this government to develop a policy or make changes to the current ones to accommodate or find ways to provide assistance to these northern residents. It seems impractical and unreasonable to penalize the families who live in these remote areas and not consider them a part of any municipal boundary when they do in fact contribute to the northern economic stratum despite the fact that they reside in these remote areas. I believe there must be a means to support everyone living in the territory regardless of the location of his or her residence, especially the children who at the end of the day get affected for the sole reason that they are pursuing an education for their own future and for the betterment of our territory. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause