Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Firstly, despite the news itself about the unwillingness of the Government of Canada to fund the social housing programs at the levels they have been funding it, I would like to thank the Minister for providing us with some information about this particular matter earlier today.
I know that the Minister also indicated to us, earlier this year, that the potential was there for problems. I recall the Minister of Finance also indicating this, however, we have to find some way of defending, what you might say is a serious need, a social need in our communities. We are not so fortunate up in the Northwest Territories to have a private housing market that is substantive as most other jurisdictions across the country.
The other point, is that we are only in the midst of trying to catch up with meeting the needs of the people of the Northwest Territories in housing. We all know from the last survey that was done, there were 3,000 units required. That is based on the population as it existed about three years ago.
I have not reviewed the details of our housing needs survey. Without looking at them, I will bet you that there has been more increases in need across the Northwest Territories. Those expressions, in terms of numbers, and in terms of the figures that we have been using to calculate needs of the communities have since gone up since our community survey.
Based on that alone, my view is that we are probably looking at substantially more than the 3,000 units, just to catch up to the need some two years ago.
Mr. Chairman, what is disappointing in this whole process, is that we have tried in the north to find all kinds of alternatives to respond to the housing needs in our communities. We have tried to encourage private developers, in those areas where the possibilities are available to develop a private market. In fact, we have tried to encourage that in this House and in government by getting out of the business of providing housing. We tried to encourage the development of a housing market.
We have tried to encourage a reduction in costs to the government, the public housing, and the O & M costs by providing for home ownership assistance and allowing our communities to develop private home owners, reducing overall costs to governments. We have tried to find ways of housing the young, single mothers or parents, and we have tried ways of housing the elders so that detached housing is made available to larger families. This, Mr. Chairman, is not an easy task. It never has been and we all acknowledge that.
I think that, despite all our efforts, there has still been a need for the federal government to participate in providing financial resources for the people of the north to ensure that we provide housing to the residents of the Northwest Territories. I must say, Mr. Chairman, that it is difficult to acknowledge how the Government of Canada, through its own reductions and through its own decision to reduce social housing, can ignore its responsibility for housing those who are in need and for providing housing through its own legal jurisdictional responsibility to aboriginal people in the Northwest Territories, and particularly the status Indian and Inuit.
I say that, because it is important that we recognize that fact. However, like all other programs it seems, Mr. Chairman, that the Government of Canada does not want to live up to its responsibility. Because they transferred the administrative responsibility to us, they walk away from their legal, constitutional responsibility for aboriginal people. That, for me, is a decision that should not be acceptable, and this government and this Assembly and those leaders of the aboriginal people should be insistent that the Government of Canada live up to its obligations.
I know that they will probably try to find a way out by saying that they transferred some administrative responsibility, but, the fact is, they still have the jurisdictional responsibility for aboriginal people and that they cannot transfer. That is clear. I do want to deal with one other responsibility that they have and that is for those who need housing, those who are in need and we know that in some cases, there are situations where there is availability in the housing market.
Like my colleagues from Yellowknife, my colleagues from Hay River and Fort Smith, and even in Iqaluit and Rankin Inlet, where they are just beginning to develop a housing market, and in other areas, they have had it longer, like Yellowknife. The fact is, the ordinary person on the street who is a single parent, or the single employed person in the family cannot afford to go out and buy a house. The prices are not at a stage where those people can afford their own homes.
So, they have to rely, Mr. Chairman, on the efforts of our government, the Housing Corporation to find some way of providing those kinds of units for single people or for those who are unable to purchase their own units. Now, I do not want to get into a long discussion, Mr. Chairman, but I urge this Assembly, my colleagues, the Cabinet Members, the Government Leader and the Minister and, I hope, with our assistance and our support, that we find a way of encouraging the Government of Canada to provide what program and what support we do not necessarily take for granted.
The people in the communities cannot take it for granted that they are going to have a private house. For young single parents or elders, they cannot take it for granted that we are going to build them a unit unless we have the money to do it. They cannot take it for granted that the communities are going to come up with the financial resources, and the private market is not going to come up with the financial resources.
In fact, in most communities, the financial institutions are not prepared to provide mortgages because in terms of a market, they just do not seem to see our communities as being communities that can provide a good private market for home owners. So, in that context, I think we have to get on with trying to find a way of encouraging the Government of the Northwest Territories, the Government Leader and the Minister in finding some solution to this significant dilemma that we are in.
I know, and I must recognize the work that the Minister and the government has put into trying to maintain the financial resources. I want to recognize the work of the staff in trying to make the presentations that were necessary. However, unfortunately, we are faced with a decision by the Government of Canada that may cause, in the long term, more harm than good and even worse housing shortages in the Northwest Territories. Worse than we are now. As it is, we are in bad shape, but that situation is not going to be very helpful.
I just want to encourage other Members to voice their concern and to find a way, at the end of our discussions on this particular matter, to give direction as Members and to participate in trying to somehow ensure that our Cabinet and this House, this Assembly, can see a successful solution to this particular dilemma that we are in. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.