Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, people who are not familiar with this government's program might think "income support" just means one program. Not so, Mr. Speaker. In the Northwest Territories, our income security programs include regular income assistance, as well as NWT Child Benefit, a seniors' supplementary benefit and home heating subsidiary, and student financial assistance.
For clients, the administrative burden of these programs can be very intimidating. Take income assistance as an example.
After their initial applications, clients must regularly stay on top of their reporting forms, sometimes monthly, as well as their rent report forms, their productive choice time log forms, their child care provider invoice forms, their disability assessment forms, and more.
That's assuming clients don't run into any problems or have any questions.
As you can guess, it's not easy. In communities with local income security staff, clients have someone to turn to when they need help. Someone who can answer their questions, handle their documents, and make sure everything runs smoothly.
Communities like Tsiigehtchic don't have that. Right now in Tsiigehtchic, clients of income security programs have to rely on a worker who comes in once a month from Fort McPherson when that worker isn't delayed by freeze-up, breakup or other issues.
I've been talking with the leadership in Tsiigehtchic, and this is a serious concern for the community. That's why I raise it in the House today. In the past, Mr. Speaker, Tsiigehtchic has had a resident income support worker. The community would like to see that position reintroduced, and I will have questions for the Minister on this matter later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.