Words of advice

Minister pledges fuel subsidy, offers advice

Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

Gjoa Haven (Jan 29/01) - The government will help people meet the high cost of heating their homes.

But Nunavummiut must also take responsibility for how they spend their money, said Housing Minister Manitok Thompson.

Thompson

She said the government should have a subsidy for low-income people in the next four weeks, but noted it's only part of the solution.

"Look at the bottom line. If you smoke one pack a day for the year, you are spending over $2,700 on cigarettes," said Thompson. "I'm not telling people to stop smoking, but where are your priorities?"

Confirmation of the subsidy was welcomed in Gjoa Haven where Elizabeth Hiqiniq is one of the people unable to afford the .953 cents per litre heating fuel costs in the Kitikmeot community. That's 33-cents more a litre than the cost in Iqaluit.

"It's sure going to make it a lot easier, especially for people not working, who are living in their houses," said Hiqiniq, adding that she planned to go on the community's local radio station to tell other people about the impending program.

Gjoa Haven senior administrator Raymond Kamookak was also relieved about the commitment to provide a subsidy, but he said he wanted to wait and see the details before he did any celebrating.

"It depends on how much the subsidy is. It will make a difference for some people, that's for sure," said Kamookak.

"It will help offset the costs."

He said his fear was that the subsidy would leave some people out in the cold because while their income was higher than the cut-off mark, it was still too low to buy fuel.

"Even people with high incomes get a lot of taxes taken off and don't have much left," he said.