Mr. Chairman, I have a number of questions, which I believe should be asked of this department, to do with the implications of the new long-term staff housing strategy. They have to do with the implications of new customers for residential water and sewage subsidies, customers who are changing from government to private residential, the cost of the subsidies, the impact on municipalities and whether the administrative costs will impact on the financing formula which is in place. There are also implications on land development in that part of the government's strategy is to encourage home ownership, particularly in the more remote communities. If this is to succeed and be pursued, we will need to know the availability of private residential lots in communities where the impacts are going to be felt, and what the costs might be to develop those lots if they are not presently available.

Mr. Chairman, I just want to mention those issues because I think they are issues that the department should be dealing with as we consider the implications of this new policy. I am not sure if the time is now while the main estimates are being considered for this department, but I am sure the Minister has taken note of those questions and will be prepared to answer them along with other related questions when the staff housing strategy is considered in committee of the whole later on in this session. I just want to note those concerns in my general comments. Thank you very much.