Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last week I spoke of the need to stop this government's clawback of the National Child Benefit Supplement. It is a significant topic and I want to speak on it again. One of the prime obligations of government is to improve the living conditions of its citizens, particularly those in the greatest need: those who struggle to get beyond the poverty line and those who want to improve their skills and abilities to function in our rapidly changing society. I believe our citizens want to become more self-sufficient and want to be able to take advantage of the development opportunities that are afforded here in the NWT.
Minister Dent, in his response to questions, is correct in saying that the program has three goals. Reducing child poverty, Mr. Speaker, is listed as the first one, and there is a growing chorus of NWT residents and family advocates telling us that we should indeed be stopping this claw back. It is reinforced by people such as Jane Stewart last year, then the federal Minister of Human Resources Development Canada. She stated during a meeting here in Yellowknife of territorial and provincial Ministers that this territory should stop clawing back the National Child Benefit Supplement.
Further strengthening this position, the United Nations reviewed Canada's compliance with the international covenant on economic social and cultural rights. Its report states that the clawback should be prohibited. The NWT is one of five jurisdictions in Canada that continues to do this.
Mr. Speaker, we shouldn't always rely on federal Ministers or outside organizations to tell us what to do, but we do have Alternatives North, our local non-government organizations, and citizens on income support who have consistently opposed this clawback. It seems like a pretty solid and knowledgeable base of opposition to this government's position. The clawback just digs a bigger hole of poverty for people to crawl out of.
Overall, our income support program, because of the housing investment that we make in it, is a good one. Where we fall down is the adequacy of our food and household living allowances. Can you imagine, Mr. Speaker, trying to get by on feeding two kids for less than $10,000? Some Members will recall, Mr. Speaker, a game we played out here in the Great Hall a couple of years ago. Mr. Speaker, I request unanimous consent to conclude my statement.