Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For most Northerners, the cost of living isn't just a challenge; it's actually a crisis. It's a financial impossibility some days from the grocery aisle to the heating bills. Mr. Speaker, Northerners clearly shoulder some of the heaviest burdens across Canada, and I think people are getting tired of the tried-and-true excuses of inaction when it comes to geography and climate change as the backstop of why inaction seems to happen.
Mr. Speaker, since 2023, this government has talked extensively about its affordability challenges, and yet residents are still asking. Show us some results, Mr. Speaker. Northerners deserve much more than rehearsed talking points and fingers pointing, Mr. Speaker.
Well, the government will list endless amounts of subsidies and things they do, but the people on the ground don't see results. They see band-aids for just such a few.
Mr. Speaker, the everyday person doesn't want incremental tweaks; they want to see something in their wallet. Insufficient or invisible rhetoric, Mr. Speaker, won't fill a belly, Mr. Speaker, and it definitely won't keep the lights on. Mr. Speaker, they deserve concrete action now to lower costs and, Mr. Speaker, this crisis can't wait any longer.
Mr. Speaker, the government has been in power, again since 2023, so as the mandarins behind the scenes pull the actual policy levers and make the decisions, Mr. Speaker, everyday families are waiting to see meaningful results. Mr. Speaker, we can list inefficient programs, but the fact is people want to see delivered relief.
Mr. Speaker, I am going to suggest why doesn't this government finally come to terms and let go of the NWT payroll tax. Mr. Speaker, that gluttony could end. Did you know if you made $35,000 a year, you pay $700 annually in payroll tax? Just imagine if you made as much as the NWT senior envoy. That'd be 10 times the amount of the everyday person, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, 2 percent. Mr. Speaker, that's a lot of local money, whether it's in Yellowknife or a regional centre or a small community, that's disposable income for families going to stores, helping kids, etcetera.
Mr. Speaker, you know, like the old saying, if you build it they will come. Mr. Speaker, the government's motto is if you give us money, they'll find ways to spend it. Mr. Speaker, the government could find a way to do this, Mr. Speaker. I will tell you right now I don't know if it's going to take Moses to part their payroll red tax sea but, Mr. Speaker, we need to see some action. Mr. Speaker, I am going to finish with set our people payroll tax free.