Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Standing Committee on Legislation reviewed Bill 3, An Act to Amend the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Act, on December 10, 1992. The committee appreciates the attendance of the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, the Hon. Don Morin, and his officials from the Housing Corporation and the Department of Justice and their responses to the questions and comments of committee Members. Although the Minister has explained quite well what it is that this bill will do, I will repeat that this bill would amend the Housing Corporation Act to remove the Board of Directors of the Housing Corporation. It would provide that the daily affairs of the corporation would be conducted by the president of the corporation, under the direction of the Minister. The president would be appointed by the Minister with no set term.
The Minister informed the committee that his intention, should Bill 3 be passed by the Assembly, is to convert the Housing Corporation into a government department. Should this happen, a "shell corporation" would be required, to maintain the current funding agreements with Canada Mortgage & Housing Corporation.
Although this is the first time this bill has come before the Standing Committee on Legislation, committee Members had the benefit of the recommendations of the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions. The Standing Committee on Agencies, Board and Commissions conducted a thorough review of the Minister's proposal to remove the Board of Directors of the Housing Corporation and recommended in Committee Report No. 6-12(3) that the Minister proceed with the proposal.
Members of the committee questioned the Minister as to the intended structure of the proposed "shell corporation" and regarding the plan outlined by the Minister for a new framework for community consultation to obtain input into housing issues. In general, Members were supportive of this bill and on December 10, 1992, they carried a motion to report Bill 3 to the Assembly as ready for Committee of the Whole. I invite other committee Members to make any additional comments. Thank you.