Mr. Speaker, [Translation] I am going to be talking about, what I'll be talking about is I'll be talking about the elders that are living. This is not my words, the words of the elders that I'm raising here. A lot of them are in the past, in the past. A lot of our elders always talk, some day, some day -- so someday the young people will become elders but still some different times, it is up to, it is up to us to make sure that you work very well, work very well with the people because we don't know what the future holds for us.
As of today, there are not that many elders like us there once was. So every month the elders pay their rent, pay their -- a lot of them raise the concern about their rental and they only get an old age pension once a month and it doesn't last long. So what, so they pay their rent and they still have to pay for water bill, light bill, and they do not get, live, have anything left over. The elders that live in the rental unit thought what about the elders that are living in their own home.
So I am pretty sure they are very struggling, struggling as well. Every month, every month they pay their rent so just to have a roof over their head. There are times they are very, very down, so today, so the cost of living is high, the cost of living going higher, these are the words of the elders I'm talking on behalf of the elders so I am talking about the words of the elders here. Do you know what will happen next? Yes, what I'll be talking about, what I'll be talking about, is I'll be talking about the elders that are living. This is not my words, the words of the elders that I'm raising here.
A lot of them, a lot of them are in the past, in the past. A lot of our elders, I will talk someday, someday that, so someday the young people will become elders. But still, sometimes, it is up to, it is up to us to make sure that you work very well, work very well with the people.
Because we don't know what the future holds for us.
As of today, there are not that many elders like as there once was. So every month, the elders pay their rent, pay their, a lot of them raise their concern about their rental issue.
And they only get it once a month, and it doesn't last long. So once, so they pay their rent, and they still have to pay for water bill, light bill, and they do not have anything left over. The elders that live in the rental unit, so what about the elders that are living in their own home?
So I'm pretty sure they are very struggling, struggling as well. Every month, every month they pay their rent. So just to have a roof over their head, there are times they are very, very down. So, so today, so the cost of living is high, the cost of living going higher. These are the words of the elders. I'm talking about the, on behalf of the elders. So I am talking about the words of the elders here. [Translation Ends].
Mr. Speaker, across the Northwest Territories, seniors are struggling to make ends meet. These are elders who have contributed to our communities for decades, raising families, building local economies and preserving our cultures and traditions. They deserve dignity, security, and respect in their retirement years.
Seniors are among the most vulnerable residents in our territory. Many live on fixed income and face rising costs for basic necessities. Public housing is meant to be a safety net, not another financial stress. Currently, seniors in public housing received up to $1,000 monthly income deduction. Mr. Speaker, can I have unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
Thank you. Currently, seniors in public housing receive up to $1,000 monthly income deduction when calculating rent, which helps reduce their housing rental costs. But even with this deduction, many seniors still face rent charges that strain their limited income. For some, this means choosing between paying rent or buying groceries, medication, or heating fuel.
Mr. Speaker, public housing is meant to ensure that individuals and families who cannot afford market rate housing still have to live in place -- still have to live --
Member from Monfwi, your time is up.
Thank you. I will have questions for the Minister of housing.
Thank you, Member from Monfwi. Members' statements. Member from Yellowknife Centre.
