Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Let me assure the Member, that we will make every effort to get our money re-instated from the federal government, every effort available to us.

Let me also assure the Member that if we do not get it, we are going to have to look at everything that we do as a government, everything.

Thank you. Mr. Nerysoo is the last one on my list. Mr. Nerysoo. Member for Thebacha.

The point I am trying to make, Mr. Chairman, I do not know if the Minister is able to absorb the point, but the problem is, that in the territories we have some individuals that have more than others. There are inequities in the system. I believe that in order to address some of the fundamental needs, we have to really look at what causes these inequities. The housing allowance is causing one of these inequities.

To indicate to this House that he is going to look at fundamental infrastructure needs for the communities, is totally unacceptable, without looking at the civil servants, who have more than what many other people in the territories have.

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I was quite able to absorb what the Member said. I can comprehend what she said. What I am saying is that you have to look at everything when you are looking for $22 million, and you have to look pretty hard, and dig pretty deep. It just does not float to the surface that easily. You also have to remember, which I have said earlier in this House, when we are looking at housing for our own people in the Northwest Territories, we have to do everything possible for our own people in the communities, to encourage homeownership. I will continue to do that. We have to encourage people to try to be self-sufficient on their own. Thank you.

General comments? Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I cannot argue against the idea of considering what options there are, or could be considered by a government, and I assume that is part of the work that is necessary. I have to agree on one point with my colleagues on this side of the House, and that is this, we cannot support, at this particular juncture, the removal of other capital projects that are essential in our communities.

We do not take it for granted that firehalls are going to be available next year to protect those houses that you now have in the communities, or that capital infrastructure that is already there. Now, most southern Canadians can take this for granted, it is available to them now. In our situation, that is just not the case.

We cannot take it for granted that we are going to have a new fire truck, or arena, where people can vent their frustrations, or participate in healthy events. I think that it is wrong for us to take the view, that is an initiative that we are going to have to consider. The same way that I do not think, at this particular juncture, and maybe I take an opposite view that we should be looking at reducing benefits to our public servants.

The argument here before us, is simply that the Government of Canada is withdrawing from a normal responsibility that they have to provide housing to the people of the Northwest Territories, especially, and I say this with respect to all people of the north, to the aboriginal people of the Northwest Territories, both the Inuit and the Indian.

It is frustrating sometimes when you get into a debate like this that we lose sight of the fundamental principle that we are trying to get at. Leave all of the other issues out right now. The fact is, our argument right now is that the federal government must provide the ongoing responsibility that they, themselves, agreed to. That is the key.

I know that we all, in the end, probably will try and find solutions in terms of the negotiating process. We have to make sure that the Government of Canada is responsible for their legislation and, in our opinion, some of the constitutional responsibility that they have. We cannot allow them to get out of that, that is clear.

One other fact that I want to say, and I do not oppose the argument that has been proposed to, that aboriginal people use their claims money to invest in housing, but that is still no substitute for the responsibility of the Government of Canada to provide money to this government, and to the people of the north for housing. How you use it in the end is your business.

If you agree that the aboriginal people, the aboriginal organizations, can invest in real estate, and you will rent from them those units, that is your business. That is the business of the government. To suggest for one moment that investors should substitute the responsibility of government, particularly the federal government to provide housing, is totally wrong. It is a good initiative and we all support it, we all do. Let us not use it as a way in which the Government of Canada can get out of what we consider, a responsibility, that is theirs.

Our fight is with the federal government right now, it is not internal. I think that the aboriginal leaders will accept that challenge, they will support us, I think that the Members of Parliament will support us, and I think that even the national native leadership will support us. I know one thing, that all of the Members in this House support the argument that we are not happy, and we condemn the efforts that the Government of Canada has undertaken, to reduce their responsibility for housing.

We can all agree with that, but let us not allow them a way to get out of their responsibility. Our fight is with them, and let us fight that fight together. Let us not find ways of allowing them to get out of their responsibility, that they are legally responsible for. How we do it is our business, and I think that it is a matter that we have to develop.

Unfortunately, we are trying to talk about what might be the strategies here, or the options available to us, and my argument is that I am still mad at the federal government for trying to get out of their responsibility for providing housing to the Northwest Territories. That is my fight, that is my argument, that is a concern that we all share, and I think that we should go after the Government of Canada.

One thing we do not want to do, as I said, is allow them the opportunity to get out of their responsibility. It may, in the end, be less than what we are asking for, but we cannot let them get out of their responsibility. I agree with some of the arguments and concerns that have been raised by my colleagues, but, at the same time, I am not going to let the Government of Canada get out of this issue. I do not think that our government, our Cabinet should ever allow them to get out of this issue. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

---Applause

Thank you. At this time the Chair would like to recognize the visitors today. We have nine students from Rimouski, Quebec who are in Yellowknife as part of the Canada 125 student exchange. They are accompanied by their supervisor, Mr. Joel Long and their host students from St. Patrick's High School. Welcome.

---Applause

Are there further general comments? Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a motion, but I wanted to introduce it as soon as all the Members had an opportunity to speak on this particular matter, and made their general comments. I am prepared to move the motion now, if it is concluded.

Thank you. Yes, proceed, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

WHEREAS housing is a major priority of the government and of all people in the Northwest Territories;

AND WHEREAS virtually every resident in the majority of northern communities in the Northwest Territories is an eligible candidate for social housing, as they do not have access to housing that is affordable, suitable or adequate;

AND WHEREAS the 1992 housing needs survey has identified the need for 30,584 units of new social housing, an increase of over 14 percent over the 1990 levels;

AND WHEREAS the population in the Northwest Territories is growing at twice the national average;

AND WHEREAS the federal government will reduce, by 59 percent, the federal funding for cost shared social housing in the Northwest Territories by 1993;

AND WHEREAS the federal government has historically been responsible for fostering, and assisting, aboriginal persons who choose to relocate from life on the land to housing in permanent communities;

I MOVE that this Assembly condemns the actions taken by the Government of Canada of reducing the federal funding for cost shared social housing in the Northwest Territories;

AND FURTHER that the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, the Honourable Don Morin, should vigorously continue his efforts to resolve the issue of funding for cost shared social housing, by immediately developing a strategy to pursue this issue with the Government of Canada, including the Prime Minister, for the reinstatement of federal housing funding in the Northwest Territories to the 1991 level;

AND FURTHERMORE that such a strategy should include the following:

1. Ensuring the input and involvement of M.L.A.s, the aboriginal leadership of the Northwest Territories, National aboriginal leaders, and M.P.'s for Nunatsiaq, and the Western Arctic, and to research the legal responsibility of federal government to provide housing to residents of the Northwest Territories, including housing for status Inuit, and Indian.

Our government agrees. Now Minister's statement 90-12(2) and table document 89-12(2) are concluded. Thank you. What does this committee wish to do now? Member for Thebacha.

Mr. Chairman, I would like to move that we report progress. Thank you.

The motion is in order, it is not debatable. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.

---Carried

I will report progress.

Item 20, report of the committee of the whole, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, your committee has being considered Minister's statement 90-12(2), and table document 89-12(2), and wish to report that Minister's statement 90-12(2), and table document 89-12(2) are concluded, with one motion being adopted unanimously. Mr. Speaker, I move the report of the chairman of the committee of the whole be concurred with. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Pudluk. Is there a seconder to the motion? Mr. Ningark. The motion is in order. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.

---Carried

Item 21, third reading of bills. Item 22, Mr. Clerk, orders of the day.

Mr. Speaker, there is a meeting of the Ordinary Member's Caucus at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow morning; orders of the day for Friday, September 18, 1992:

1. Prayer

2. Ministers' Statements

3. Members' Statements

4. Returns to Oral Questions

5. Oral Questions

6. Written Questions

7. Returns to Written Questions

8. Replies to Opening Address

9. Replies to Budget Address

10. Petitions

11. Reports of Standing and special Committees

12. Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills

13. Tabling of Documents

14. Notices of Motion

15. Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills

16. Motions

17. First Reading of Bills

18. Second Reading of Bills

19. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

- Tabled Document 9-12(2)

- Tabled Document 10-12(2)

- Tabled Document 62-12(2)

- Motion 6-12(2)

- Committee Report 10-12(2)

- Committee Report 17-12(2)

- Committee Report 18-12(2)

- Bills 9

- Bill 31

- Bill 33

- Minister's Statement 82-12(2)

20. Report of Committee of the Whole

21. Third Reading of Bills

22. Orders of the Day

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. This House stands adjourned until 10:00 a.m., Friday, September 18, 1992.

---ADJOURNMENT