Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we in the Sahtu, like other isolated communities in the North, struggle with the high cost of living. Let me give you an idea of what this means for people in my riding. For example, Mr. and Mrs. Public lives in a small isolated community. They work part time, live off the land seasonally, have five children ages between five and 15, only one store in town, food and products are flown in by air, the people are relying more on income support, husband or wife works at odd jobs if he or she can find it. Now, Mr. Speaker, Uncle Orville from Colville, a skilled hunter and trapper who lived off the land to survive many, many years ago and unfortunately now he needs help to sustain himself in his old age, yet can still jig like Mr. Morris Lockhart can. The government strongly supports the four essential food groups in eating healthy foods. The same program for most traditional harvesting of healthy foods like caribou, fish, moose and, of course, nowadays you need gas for your boat and skidoo to get these foods. In Colville alone, the cost of gas is $1.51 per litre, camping fuel is $3.43 per litre, and diesel fuel to keep Uncle Orville warm costs $1.60 per litre. Mrs. Public goes to the grocery store and, my goodness, a five-pound bag of potatoes costs $12.99. Enfalac for her grandchild, one can, 370 grams, costs $17.99. So now Uncle Orville and Mrs. Public are sitting in the dark with no food, but they think at least we can have a drink of water. Furthermore, the cost of potable water is also up there in price. The government encourages people to wash their hands, keep clean, and the Canada/NWT food guide promotes the idea of washing the fruits and vegetables. This is not realistic for big families living in single units. People in the communities are also asked to reduce their energy consumption. The high cost of living. What do you think the people are doing outside of Yellowknife and their regional centres when the government supports healthy living and promotes eating nutritionally from the four essential food groups? People in the high cost of living are paying the price. Thank you.
---Applause
