Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No, the income assistance was not increased on April 1, 2016. However, they were increased on April 1, 2015. The reason we didn't look at the increase was, obviously, there was a federal announcement of the child benefits and we wanted to look at our regulations. The Member stated it very well in his Member's statement on why we were looking at delaying any type of increases. Currently the GNWT does have a northern market basket measure. We worked with the Governments of Yukon and Nunavut to create this. All other jurisdictions across Canada have a market basket measure that represents a modest basic standard of living in which they represent their income assistance. We've created one in 2014 for the Northern Territories, but that was the reason the federal government did make an announcement with the federal child benefit and we're looking at how we can benefit from that, and we are currently going through our regulations and changes right now.
Alfred Moses on Question 161-18(2): Annual Increase To Income Assistance Benefits
In the Legislative Assembly on June 3rd, 2016. See this statement in context.
Question 161-18(2): Annual Increase To Income Assistance Benefits
Oral Questions
June 2nd, 2016
See context to find out what was said next.