(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Regarding the houses in the Arctic, they are very essential, and with the housing that we have had, we cannot go back to that. We cannot go back to living in igloos, we have been using houses, and we are used to living in houses. When there is not enough housing, the Inuit want houses, and there is not enough housing available.
I know they are going to start turning towards more money and assistance, and it will be costing us more. The federal government would be using more money. Why would we be using more money if we do not have enough housing available for the people of the north? We all know that when there are two many people in one house, there are a lot of diseases that come up. In the physical sense and mental sense, and when there are not enough houses available, and one house is too crowded, there is a lot of violence. When a house is too crowded, it will deteriorate, and when there are school children in one house, they will not be able to continue their education. Even if they bring their homework to that house, they will not be able to complete their assignments, because there are too many people in that house.
They will not be able to think properly if the house is too noisy. We would have to use more money, because of those students who are not being able to continue with their education. We have to pay for our children's education. These are all costly. We all know that the government of the Northwest Territories and the federal government of Ottawa, have to try and understand that, because they are in fiscal restraint right now. They cannot give us any more houses, they decreased the houses, we will be using more money as a result of it. (translation ends)
We realize that we have a very big problem with housing in the past. Mr. Chairman, we realize that we have a problem. This is something that every Member of this House, as long as I have been a Member of this House for the past three years, has brought up, regarding the problem of not getting adequate social housing for the people of the N.W.T. within the small communities. Even in the larger centres of the territories.
We know the situation is bad. We know the government does not have money to provide the obligation to provide shelter for the people of Canada, especially the people of the N.W.T. The situation is going to get worse, Mr. Chairman, if the federal government should cut the allocation to the N.W.T., under the housing program.
I say that, because I know there will be consequences. There are already consequences under the system. When I say consequences, I am speaking of overcrowding of social houses in the small communities, and larger communities, across the territories. When you talk about overcrowding, you are talking about people who are not happy, as a result of overcrowding.
You have social problems, and you have mental problems, you have health problems in the overcrowding situations. Even the students are going to be affected by this problem. I have seen that in my community, and I am sure in the other communities across the territories, that when there is the situation of overcrowding in the household, kids have to come home and do their homework at the end of the day, and they are not able to do that, because of this situation that I stated. How can a child do their homework, when you have people running all over the house. You have people in the bedrooms, you have people in the livingroom, you have people in the kitchen, you have music in the livingroom, music in the bedroom, television in the livingroom, and television in the bedroom. How can we, the government of the N.W.T., and the government at the federal level, not see the future consequences?
As I stated, Mr. Chairman, if we are not able control this situation within this time, we are going to see some consequences. The consequences are going to be far greater than they are now. We are going to be devastated by this, but I think we know that every Member of this House is concerned. Every Member of this House knows the situation, of the social housing problem, in each community, in each region. I know that there is a sense of working together on this issue, if we do not, we are accountable to the public.
I can tell you, my colleagues, we can do something about that. It is not too late, we can send the message to the federal government, and other jurisdictions, that the north is unique. Social housing is one of the essential programs. The federal government has an obligation to provide social housing for the people of this country, especially the people of the north.
We live in a harsh climate. We live in an unforgiving climate. Although we live in a beautiful part of Canada, the weather, the climate, can be very unforgiving.
Mr. Chairman, I know the honourable Minister is sincerely trying very hard to do something about this situation. He has to be, he told us that yesterday. I would like to commend the honourable Minister for discussing the matter with us. I recognize that we do not have the money, in this government, to deal with every problem. This one situation is something that we cannot let go without fighting for it. Thank you.
---Applause