Rodney, the only steps they have taken to fix the deficit so far are to cut the budget a couple of years in a row, and cut the PFD in half.  The PFD cut hurts the poor much more than the middle or upper class.  Most of the people in those 138 rural communities are not middle or upper class, and therefore are feeling the pain of the steps taken to resolve the deficit much more than the average family on the road system.  This is indisputable, and the economist in this article states the same thing. And the cuts to the budget have affected a wide variety of state services, affecting those on the road system and the bush. 

As for the lifetime welfare comment, what would you suggest happen instead?  There aren't enough jobs in the bush.  Mandatory resettlement?  Who is paying for that?  Just how much is the state paying per year for this "lifetime welfare?"  I'm really asking because though I live in the bush I have no idea of the total figure.