Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. All other proposed amendments to this act will be carried through with a lot of consultation with the Members, so the Members will be helping us once again. As they helped us with this one, they will be helping us to draft amendments to the act.

Thank you. Are there any general comments on Bill 3? Member for Thebacha.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am somewhat concerned by the fact that this board is being eliminated and actually, in the act itself, is only being replaced by the Minister and the president. There is no reference to the special advisory committee to which the Minister referred in his opening remarks. I would like to ask the Minister when and in what time frame is he going to commit to us in this House to bring forth the necessary requirements to set up a special advisory committee on housing?

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As I said in my opening remarks, I did adopt all the recommendations made by the Standing Committee of Agencies, Boards and Commissions, and I believe that the recommendation was that they directed me to come back in February with that, but that is to develop amendments to this act. I will be doing it in consultation with the Members of the Assembly. So we should be prepared to come in February with some more amendments and then it is just a matter of how long it takes to get through the process. It should be completed in 1993-94.

Thank you. Mrs. Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With regard to the special advisory committee that the Minister is referring to in his opening remarks, I am sure the Minister is aware that the bill does not commit him to anything and I think this is a concern of the Members. I recognize that the Minister has made a commitment to come back by February with the set-up of the special advisory committee. I would like to ask the Minister, who is he proposing to pay the cost of the special advisory committee on housing? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister for Housing.

I guess whoever foots the bill will be part of the consultation process with Members and I do not know whether it will be the Legislative Assembly or the Housing Corporation. I guess that part will come out in consultation with the Members. It will probably be worked out between the clerk and the president through F.M.B., I believe. I know that we have deducted a certain amount from our budget already this year as an elimination process.

Thank you. General comments, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you. I think that is the problem that some of the Members have. The Minister is proposing to eliminate the bill of the board of directors, which is costly. However, Members are concerned about the special committee, which is supposed to take place in lieu of the board. The cost factors of absorbing and initiating this particular special committee are not clear. Being a Member of the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions, that was one of my concerns. The initial proposal was that the Minister request that the Legislative Assembly pay the cost. I believe this is unfair.

I would like to get some type of commitment prior to agreeing to this bill that the Minister would make every effort to ensure that the Legislative Assembly is not going to be the only department that will be looking at absorbing costs for his initiative of creating a Special Advisory Committee on Housing.

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I agree. We will meet and discuss it and share the costs if necessary. This consultation process that we came up with came out of the meetings with A.B.C.s, and other Members' input. They are the ones who gave me the ideas of how to go through this consultation process. It is a good idea.

Thank you. General comments. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

I agree, Mr. Chairman, it is a good idea. It is a better idea if the Housing Corporation pays the costs because it is its initiative. Mr. Chairman, I just wanted to make another comment. How many PYs does the Minister anticipate to save with the elimination of this board? Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Mr. Chairman, we have given up one PY with this board.

Thank you. General comments. Mr. Zoe.

Mahsi, Mr. Zoe. Mr. Minister.

Section 3, the corporation may establish such office and agencies in the territories that it considers necessary.

Thank you. Mr. Zoe.