Mr. Speaker, if the residents of the Sahtu are facing fuel bills that result in them being unable to fill their fuel tanks even as they're working full-time, that is going to be a crisis. It's going to be a crisis the minute somebody can't fill their fuel bills, something like their house fuel is up -- or freezes up. They're literally people are unable to stay in their homes. So, yes, I mean, in that sense, Mr. Speaker, it absolutely is a crisis. It's how we respond, how quickly we can respond, and doing so in a way that actually allows people to continue to live, work, reside, be in the Sahtu. Mr. Speaker, we need to find some short-term capacity solutions to make sure that the programs that we have already, seniors home heating subsidies, income assistance programs, the relief program for barges for the barge resupplies that have been put in place, that those are working. Let's see if they can work even better. Let's see what's going to come of that as these fuel prices are coming in. And if they're not, well, Mr. Speaker, then it's a crisis for that community and the government's role here is to make sure that we can be there to support them. Thank you.
Caroline Wawzonek on Oral Question 299-20(1): Norman Wells Crisis Support
In the Legislative Assembly on October 17th, 2024. See this statement in context.
Oral Question 299-20(1): Norman Wells Crisis Support
Oral Questions
October 17th, 2024
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