Since the Minister has indicated that three businesses completely ignored the tender, would he explain to us in what way these bids did not respond to the demand for certain quality specifications?

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The people did not respond properly to the quality of the material asked for. It was as simple as that. Prior to the tender the potential northern suppliers were told about the quality that was called for. They all expressed an interest to bid on that tender with that quality. If they chose not to include that quality that is how they chose to bid and I cannot help them. It is very specific. If they do not bid the same quality their tender is not accepted. Thank you.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member's statement, I spoke about the very serious problem a lot of people in our smaller communities are experiencing today with regard to the economy and trying to make a living. I would like to ask the Minister of Renewable Resources to inform the House on what his department is doing to help trappers in making a living in this day of high costs, for equipment, food, low prices in fur and changes to the traps? Thank you.

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The department has provided 40,000 traps this year to replace the leg hold traps. An additional 10,000 traps were replaced by this fall and we were able to receive another 2,000 from the Yukon. These are the new traps which we give out in exchange for the leg hold traps. This is the assistance provided for the trappers who want to trap. Our budget for local hunters and trappers in the Northwest Territories is $800,000. This money goes directly to hunters and trappers. We also have the Harvesters' Assistance Program for the communities, which is approximately $400,000 for the entire Northwest Territories, and we have an Outpost Camp Program which is approximately $200,000. In the western Arctic we have a Back to the Land Program which enables the hunters, through their local H.T.A.s, to get some resources so that they can go out and trap or harvest other animals. Thank you.

Could I ask Members who pose a question which may require a complex or long answer, to consider using Written Questions. Oral Questions. Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. During my travels into the smaller communities in my constituency I have become aware that there are different people who are trappers and their equipment is broken down, mainly their snowmobiles. With the economy the way it is, it is very difficult to buy this expensive equipment and to make a living at the same time. They have asked me to see if the government could come out and help them out in obtaining some snowmobiles. I was wondering if the Minister could tell me if there is such a program or any assistance within his department to help these people? Thank you.

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We used to have an agreement between our government and the federal government through E.D.A. which enabled the hunters of the Northwest Territories to get some resources to purchase snowmobiles, outboards, etc. This agreement has been discontinued by the federal government. We pursued vigorously to see if we could come up with the same agreement between Economic Development and Tourism and our department, but we were not successful. We have also explored some options in which we could help the hunters and trappers in the Northwest Territories. We were not able to agree on a program which would be acceptable to the people of the Northwest Territories. The Dene Nation, T.F.N. and the Metis Association were involved in the development of the program. At the present time the government is relying on land claim money to help hunters and trappers. It does not mean that we are not exploring other options.

Last year, Mr. Speaker, the government was able to identify $600,000 to assist hunters and trappers throughout the Northwest Territories. This was utilized by the local H.T.A.s to help hunters and trappers. This year, because of restraint, we have limited resources for this program. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know the Minister has mentioned that the arrangement with the federal government to assist hunters and trappers no longer exists, but is he going to continue pursuing another agreement of this

nature, in light of the present economy and with the whole move towards changing the leg hold traps, and the way people have been doing trapping for a long time? It would really help a lot of people in the north if such an agreement were in existence. Mahsi.

Mr. Allooloo.

Yes, I will pursue the recommendation the Member is stating with the federal government, with the help of the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. Maybe together we will be able to get something from the federal government.

Oral Questions. Mr. Koe.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday, in the House of Commons, the federal Minister made his budget address. I would like to quote a statement made by that Minister, "The way to reduce deficits is by controlling spending, not raising taxes. Now is not the time for any government to raise taxes. Canadians can make better use of their money than governments can. The more we can leave in people's pockets the better it will be for our economy."

I have a question for the Minister of Finance. Will the Minister consider these words of wisdom from the federal Minister of Finance when bringing forth new tax incentives for the N.W.T.?

Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Of course I will take those words into consideration, Mr. Speaker. I also have to take into consideration the words of the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs through whom our finances come, and he consistently tells me, as he told you, Mr. Speaker, when you were in this position, that our tax rate in the Northwest Territories is too low. I will balance between the two, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Question period has expired. We can take a short break so that the Members have an opportunity to go into the lobby and meet with some of the participants in the book "I Remember".

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I would like to call this House back to order. Item 6, Written Questions. Item 7, Returns to Written Questions. Item 8, Replies to Opening Address. Item 9, Petitions. Item 10, Reports of Standing and Special Committees. Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to give the report of the Standing Committee on Finance and our review of the 1993-94 Capital Estimates of the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. Since the beginning of the 12th Legislative Assembly, the Standing Committee on Finance has consistently told the government that the provision of adequate housing for all residents of the Northwest Territories must be one of its highest priorities.

The housing needs survey prepared by the Housing Corporation shows that we have much work to do to reach this goal. The survey indicates that our current housing shortage is over 3,500 units and the shortage is growing. Recent cuts of 63 per cent in funding levels for new housing construction by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation will only impair our ability to reduce this deficit. The Minister of Housing has been keeping the committee abreast of developments regarding the federal funding cuts and the efforts the corporation has been taking to have C.M.H.C. funding levels reinstated. The committee would like to commend the Minister for this.

---Applause

However, the committee is concerned that the Minister and his officials are taking a somewhat passive public position on these crippling funding reductions. The committee believes that at some point negotiations cease to be effective and public pressure must be applied. That time may very well have come, Mr. Speaker.

On a related issue, the Legislative Assembly passed a motion in September giving the government a mandate to review the federal government's constitutional and treaty obligations to provide adequate housing for aboriginal people. This is a good start but, frankly, it is not enough. The committee believes that the government and the Minister of Housing must aggressively put forth this position with the Government of Canada, including the Prime Minister.

Until these larger issues are resolved the committee understands that the Housing Corporation must find ways to build housing within the funding presently available. On this note, Mr. Speaker, the committee is pleased with the innovative changes the Housing Corporation has proposed to reshape the Home ownership Assistance Program. These changes should allow the corporation to deliver more units at a lower cost. The corporation should be commended for the good work it has done in this regard.

However, Mr. Speaker, the committee remains very concerned about the decrease in the units available for public housing. We will state it again, the goal of the Housing Corporation should be to provide adequate housing for all residents of the Northwest Territories.

Hear, hear.

It is of great importance that the corporation place much more emphasis on re-evaluating the Public Housing Program to ensure that adequate housing is available to those most in need. The Standing Committee on Finance is currently exploring an alternative approach to fund the construction of new social housing and other housing programs in the Northwest Territories. The committee has retained Mr. Larry Grossman, the former Minister of Finance for the province of Ontario to develop a proposal to access immigrant investment funds for such projects. The committee will provide further information on this initiative during the next sitting of this Assembly.

During the review of the 1993-94 Capital Estimates for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, the committee noted several major issues and respectfully submits a list of four recommendations for the consideration of this Assembly. Mr. Speaker, that concludes our report.

Motion To Move Committee Report 4-12(3) To Committee Of The Whole

Therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik, that the report of the Standing Committee on Finance be received and moved into the Committee of the Whole for consideration.