Mr. Speaker, I have a return to a question asked by Mr. Nerysoo on Monday, February 17, 1992, with regard to an analysis of the potential impact of the restructuring of the NWT Housing Corporation which has taken place. Restructuring would entail the present corporation adopting a departmental structure and the elimination of the present board of directors. Our analysis indicates that the restructuring would allow for significant savings to be made in the administration of the board as well as ensuring that the housing policies and housing programs are closely co-ordinated with this government's economic, social, health and education policies.
An important element of this analysis was reviewing the structures and changes which are taking place in the provinces. Several provinces have changed or are in the process of changing to a departmental structure. Provinces which have converted or are soon to be converted are Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick. Our analysis also indicates that it would likely be desirable to maintain some form of corporate structure, operating under the authority of a departmental structure, in order that existing agreements with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation would be continued and to ensure continued access to all CMHC programs.
Restructuring of the corporation would have no major immediate impact upon employees of the corporation nor upon internal operations and programs. The social housing programs managed by the corporation are vital to many territorial residents, and the delivery of these programs would continue.
Restructuring would eventually require some changes to the NWT Housing Corporation Act as well as changes to administration and management policies, directives and procedures. These changes would be required to reflect the closer linkages to the government with regard to the departmental structure. Thank you.