As the Member stated, this is an issue that involves housing and income security and other sorts of government network programs that might create barriers in terms of benefits that one might get. That is something that I would be willing to look at.

Going forward, though, it is something that future governments have to consider, because we do, in our Foundation for Change action plan, I believe it is the approach of any other government to encourage family members and communities to partake in taking care of our elderly and persons with needs as much as possible, and it’s something that we need to expand on and it’s something we are trying to do in communities in the Territories. I believe this is something that my department has to flag as something that the next government has to continue to work on.

Lastly, I think we have to have a national campaign about how we look after each other because our population is aging and it’s not just going to be about money. It’s going to be about not having enough womenpower/manpower to physically look after all those who are going to need to be looked after and a general shortage of young people who are going to be able to pay taxes or look after us. I anticipate that I’m going to be elderly soon, too, and I think we need a national campaign on how we look after each other over the next 20 years. I don’t think it’s just about money. I think families and individuals have to look after each other. Government has a role to play, but I don’t think government can do it alone.