Agreed.

---Agreed

Thank you. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Chairman, I move that we report progress.

Thank you. There is a motion on the floor to report progress and the motion is not debatable. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

I will now rise and report progress. I would like to thank the Minister and the witnesses. Thank you for appearing.

Item 19, Report of Committee of the Whole, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do not know if I am going to be able to read this. The committee has been considering an appearance by the Languages Commissioner; Committee Reports 8-12(3) and 9-12(3); and Bills 15 and 4, and wishes to report progress with two motions being adopted and the appearance by the Languages Commissioner. Committee Reports 8-12(3) and 9-12(3) are concluded. Bills 15 and 4 are ready for third reading. Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with. Thank you.

Is there a seconder to the motion? Mr. Dent. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to waive rule 66(5), to have Bill 3, An Act to Amend the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Act, moved into Committee of the Whole today.

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Pursuant to rule 66(3) on the order of the Assembly, Bill 3 is ordered into Committee of the Whole today. Please proceed, Mr. Morin.

I would welcome the committee back to order. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, thank you, thank you Members.

---Laughter

I would like to deal with Bill 3, An Act to Amend the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Act.

Does the committee agree that we deal with Bill 3?

Agreed.

---Agreed

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The legislation I am presenting for approval today is Bill 3, An Act to Amend the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Act. This amendment will eliminate the requirement for the N.W.T. Housing Corporation to have a board of directors and make the Minister responsible for the N.W.T. Housing Corporation solely accountable to this Legislative Assembly for the conduct and affairs of the corporation. This bill has been reviewed by the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions and by the Standing Committee on Legislation. I would like to thank the Members of both these committees for the opportunity to review the principles and content of the amendment and to address their questions and concerns.

During my recent meetings with the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions, the Members made several constructive suggestions to improve our proposal to improve public consultation. I believe we have a better consultation framework as a result of these discussions. I am pleased to have the committee's support to implement the following initiatives in 1993-94, as they recommended: establish a special advisory committee on housing and more consultation and information sharing with fellow M.L.A.s; an annual meeting in each district with representatives with the local housing organizations and community leaders to deal with district housing issues; annual public meetings in every community to deal with local concerns; and, more consultation and stronger partnerships between the corporation and local housing organizations, community governments and local groups.

It is my firm belief, Mr. Chairman, that the problems we face in housing as in many other issues, should be addressed in a more cooperative way. No one person has all the answers. There is much to gain by asking people in the communities to help develop solutions to our housing problems. A special advisory committee on housing has been suggested because it would give M.L.A.s a formal advisory role on housing issues and major new programs and policies. I believe that the input from the special advisory committee will be of great value as we develop new policies and programs. In addition, I have made a commitment to provide all Members of this House with regular updates and to share information on new policy and program development.

I have read the comments made by the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions about the need to define more clearly how the committee would be structured and how it would operate. I understand these concerns, Mr. Chairman, and I will seek a further opportunity to review these proposals with M.L.A.s before bringing it into a formal motion at the next session to establish a special committee on housing. The purpose of the bill before the House today, Mr. Chairman, is to remove the requirement for the new Housing Corporation to have a board of directors. There will be no other changes to the corporation structure as a result of Bill 3.

However, the removal of the requirement for the board is the first step towards the eventual conversion of the N.W.T. Housing Corporation to a government department.

I agree with the comment in the report of the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions recommending a departmental structure for the delivery of housing programs. I am glad to be bringing forward legislation in 1993-94 to convert the corporation to a department and to strengthen the emphasis of the important role played by local housing organizations and community governments in the delivery of housing. The "shell corporation" which was the subject of the document I tabled yesterday will not be required until such a conversion takes place. As the Members are aware, the corporation's financial arrangements with C.M.H.C. and the Housing Corporation are covered by legal agreements. Legislation to convert the corporation to a department must be carefully drafted to ensure that these legal agreements will continue without delays or disruptions. The corporation has also begun discussions with communities interested in taking over more responsibility for housing programs. It is important that our Legislature facilitate such transfers.

In closing, I would like to thank the Members for their support for this legislative amendment and for their good advice which has improved our consultation framework. I will be pleased to implement all the recommendations contained in the report of the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions. I look forward to continuing to work cooperatively with all the Members as we strive to address the housing needs of all our N.W.T. communities. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. I will now go over to the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Legislation. Mr. Chairman, do you have opening remarks on this bill?

Standing Committee On Legislation Comments

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.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman of the Legislation committee. Any general comments on the bill? Mr. Zoe.

General Comments

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have already stated in my opening remarks, as well as in my appearances before the committee, that we would establish a special advisory committee, have annual meetings in each district, annual public meetings in each community and work on consultations at the local level with local groups. I mentioned in my opening remarks to this committee as well as to the Special Committee on Legislation today that we would be coming forward with more amendments to the N.W.T. Housing Corporation Act in 1993-94 and that, at that time, we would address those concerns. This is all on paper. It has all been distributed to Members of this House so the assurance is there.

I am answerable to the Members of this House, so if I do not follow through with this, I am history. It is as simple as that.

Thank you. Bill 3, Mr. Arvaluk.