Thank you, Madam Chair. I agree. I do think that we have great benefits for our seniors. I did hear from a lot, actually, after my comments the first week of session, that a lot of them were quite happy with the supports we have. I just want to ensure that a lot of those stay in place and that we extend them to everybody possible. Sticking with my seniors theme, I'm looking at the Senior Citizen Supplementary Benefit. I'm not quite sure if I understand what that is. I apologize if the department has explained that. Maybe, if I could get a little bit of an explanation as to what that is, but also, does the department anticipate these subsidies or benefits for seniors increasing more in the next while? Are we seeing a larger amount of seniors staying and applying for these programs? Are we going to see a continuing trend upwards? Thank you.

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Thank you. For that level of detail, I would like to ask Mr. Saturnino to answer. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Saturnino.

Thank you, Mr. Saturnino. Member for Great Slave.

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Yes, we can find out some information about what we expect to see with the number of seniors. I know there is work going on in other departments, as well, and I'm sure that we are part of that and are actively using that information. We can get that for the Members. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Member for Great Slave.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Sorry, I forgot I noted one more question and, again, I apologize if this has been discussed already. I'm looking at the Income Security initiative that was part of the contribution to the Salvation Army to provide effective community resources. I noted that it was in the main estimates, the department had it in the main estimates and the actuals. It has now been removed, or it wasn't spent. I'm not quite sure. To me, that seems like a great area in which we continue to fund community supports. I do recognize it's only Yellowknife-based; however, maybe just a bit of an explanation as to why it is disappearing off the books? Thanks.

Thank you, Member. Minister of ECE.

Thank you. That support is still being provided. We have other programs where it's more appropriate to provide it through. I can ask Mr. Saturnino, or how about Mr. Shannon. He hasn't had much to say lately. I'll ask Mr. Shannon to answer. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Shannon.

Thank you, Mr. Shannon. Member for Thebacha.

Thank you, Madam Chair. My question will start also with the Senior Citizen Supplementary Benefit and the heating subsidy. Both of them are based on income. Right?

Thank you, Member. Minister.

That's correct.

Thank you, Minister. Member for Thebacha.

It's disturbing that the people who have given the most to us, our seniors, our elders, with the knowledge and the traditional knowledge and everything else, that we always have thresholds for seniors. I am very much about universal senior care, and, of course, we have to start somewhere. I know I'm going to start with housing, but I also am just pointing to the fact, Madam Chair, that these two things are based on income. I think it's time that we start thinking in a different manner in the future, and I just want to see what the Minister has to say about that. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member. Minister of ECE.

Thank you. I've heard the Member's advocacy on behalf of seniors and how the GNWT funds them. I know that we are working on a seniors strategy and, through that work, I think we are going to be having these discussions and come to some sort of an approach together. That work is ongoing, and her comments are definitely noted. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Member for Thebacha.