Mr. Speaker, I had the opportunity to speak to two elderly ladies in Fort McPherson who are pensioners. Mr. Speaker, they are struggling to maintain their homes and also the

ability to maintain a lifestyle. Mr. Speaker, they have a fixed income in regards to a pension which is around $1,000 a month. But yet, Mr. Speaker, they are not receiving any help from the Government of the Northwest Territories when it comes to seniors’ fuel subsidies and also helping them maintain their homes.

Mr. Speaker, one elder told me about the challenges she’s had since she has moved into her home which was built by the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation in 1996. This elder has gone through four stoves, three fridges, washers and dryers, and yet, Mr. Speaker, she has to pay out of her own pocket. She also has to use her residential school payment to buy these utilities, again, finding out that they also came to electrical shortage failures in her home. Mr. Speaker, that is not safe. The Housing Corporation where this individual has gone time and time again for assistance that were not there to help.

Mr. Speaker, the other elder who spoke to me about how she is struggling just to maintain a lifestyle. Every month her power bill is around $390. She has to get her own fuel because she’s not eligible for the fuel subsidy. It costs about $1,000 a month, not counting your other utility costs like water, sewer and also maintaining the home. Mr. Speaker, the frustration of this elder, you can see it on her face when she speaks of elders who are living in social housing paying $20 a month and they don’t have to take care of those operational costs. Yet, there is no assistance there for elders who are living in their own homes.

Mr. Speaker, this government has to do more to assist elders who want to maintain an independent lifestyle, who want to maintain their homes and, more importantly, maintain their dignity. Mr. Speaker, these are not the only elders I’ve heard from. There are other elders throughout the Northwest Territories and Mackenzie Delta who are struggling to make ends meet in regard to living on a fixed income as a pensioner.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted