Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will carry on with the presentation of resolutions arising out of the Standing Committee on Finance meetings to review the budget. At our meetings, Mr. Chairman, the committee stated that we very strongly believe that the government should be encouraging the development of the private housing, homeownership market, as evidenced by recommendations of the N.W.T. Housing Corporation and Department of Public Works, with respect to public and staff housing.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We have heard from many sources that this government wants to encourage the private homeownership market, and the property tax rebate was introduced, by the government, as a measure to increase private ownership, it was a method of encouraging the private ownership of homes in the north.

As the Minister pointed out in his opening remarks, this is going to save the government $245,000, which in comparison to the amount of deficit, is insignificant. We think it is a step in the wrong direction when it comes to encouraging people to own their own homes. The other thing, is that it was undertaken without any consultation. There was never any notice given to municipalities, that this sort of initiative was going to be stopped. There was no consultation with M.L.A.s, and this is one of those areas in which, especially, those of us within the tax-based municipalities, can certainly feel some effect. I know that everybody who represents a tax-based municipality has had calls, and letters from people who were quite shocked that this had taken place, that the government was going to cut the rebate. There was never an announcement. The only time the people found out, was when they went into the municipality to apply for the rebate, and found out that on the form, it was for $300 this year, instead of $400. I think it is sending out the wrong message. If we want to encourage people to own their own homes, you do not start cutting back on programs that were initiated in order to encourage them to do it. I would hope that the government will consider reinstating it, especially in light of this motion. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Recently there have been a rise in the number of local emergencies, such as in Fort Simpson and Rankin Inlet, etc., and emergency response measures have been criticized. For a simple example, currently local authorities can only approve expenditures on emergency measures up to $1,000. Committee Members expressed concern that we must be better prepared to reasonably deal with such situations.

Therefore, Mr. Chairman, I move, that this committee recommends that the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs review the Emergency Measures Program by March 31, 1993, with the intent of becoming better prepared to deal with local emergencies.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The committee is also concerned with reductions in the budget for Recreation Subsidy Programs, especially after the government has invested considerable capital funds in building recreation infrastructure.

Therefore, Mr. Chairman, I move, that this committee recommends that the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs restore the funding to Recreation Subsidy Programs in the 1993-94 Main Estimates.