WHEREAS the Legislative Assembly has expressed its desire to have a vehicle that would provide ongoing advice from elected representatives to the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation on broad territorial housing issues;

AND WHEREAS the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation has established a process that would allow for broad base input and consultations with individuals, communities, regions and aboriginal organizations;

AND WHEREAS the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions recommended in Committee Report 6-12(2) to the House that the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation introduce a motion establishing a special advisory committee on housing during the current session;

AND WHEREAS in accordance with the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions report that the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation has tabled draft terms of reference for the advisory committee on social housing;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik that the Legislative Assembly hereby establishes the advisory committee on social housing;

AND FURTHER that the following be adopted as the terms of reference for the advisory committee on social housing:

Purpose

- to provide ongoing advice from elected representatives to the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation and the Legislative Assembly on broad territorial social housing issues;

- to provide a forum for the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation to share information and consult with elected representatives.

Structure

- three Members from the east;

- three Members from the west;

- chaired by the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.

Term

- for the duration of the 12th Legislative Assembly.

Mandate

- the advisory committee on social housing shall:

a) inquire into such housing matters as made by referred to it by the Legislative Assembly;

b) review major new or revised policies or programs proposed by the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation;

c) review major issues arising from existing policies or programs of the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation;

d) review the major housing issues arising from the community consultation undertaken by the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation with members of the public, local housing organizations, community governments and interest groups;

e) provide advice to the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation and the Legislative Assembly;

f) provide opportunities for all Members to raise concerns related to housing and to have input on housing issues on the review by the advisory committee.

Conduct of Business

1) the advisory committee on social housing shall conduct its business in a manner approved by the Legislative Assembly;

2) the advisory committee on social housing shall appoint a chairman, who shall be the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. The chairman shall not vote;

3) the advisory committee on social housing shall appoint one of its members to serve as deputy chairman;

4) a quorum of the advisory committee on social housing shall consist of four members, including the chairman;

5) the Northwest Territories Northwest Territories Housing Corporation and the Legislative Assembly shall jointly provide, from their appropriations, the necessary funds to the advisory committee on social housing to carry out its responsibilities;

6) the advisory committee on social housing shall ordinarily meet at times scheduled for sessions of the Legislative Assembly, or for meeting of other special and standing committees;

7) meetings of the advisory committee on social housing may be called at the discretion of the chairman, or of a

majority of the members, to deal with matters, as required;

8) travel costs for meetings of the advisory committee on social housing will be the responsibility of the Northwest Territories Northwest Territories Housing Corporation;

9) the advisory committee on social housing will make regular reports to the Legislative Assembly, through the deputy chairman;

10) the necessary administrative support for the advisory committee on social housing shall be provided jointly by the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation and Legislative Assembly offices.

Your motion is in order, Mr. Morin. To the motion. Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, I would just like to briefly commend the Minister for moving in this direction. I think we all know that because of financial and other pressures, changes are going to have to be made with respect to public housing. Difficult decisions are likely to face this new committee. However, I think this consultative approach whereby people affected become part of the solution, rather than part of the problem, is the best way to make progress with difficult issues in a consensus government. I cannot help saying if that approach would have been taken with the staff housing problem, we would not have had the problems with that policy.

Hear, hear.

---Applause

Mr. Patterson, if you could confine yourself to the motion, please. Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, I think I made my point and I was not on Cabinet when the policy was announced.

---Applause

To the motion please, Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to speak in favour of this motion and I wish the Minister well. I think this is the way to deal with difficult issues. The committee will not have an easy job, but the process is the correct one. Thank you.

---Applause

To the motion.

Question.

Question is being called. Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would just like to thank all Members who had input into developing this approach to consensus government. I think it is a good

approach. I think with all Members working together, it should work. I look forward to this process. Thank you.

Mr. Morin has concluded debate as the mover of the motion. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.

---Carried

---Applause

Item 15, motions. Item 16, first reading of bills. Mr. Todd.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to proceed with the first reading of Bill 22.

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Mr. Todd.

The motion is in order, Mr. Todd. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.

---Carried

Bill 22 has had first reading. Item 16, first reading of bills. Mr. Kakfwi.

Mr. Kakfwi, you have to seek unanimous consent to move forward with this bill.

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Mr. Kakfwi.

The motion is in order, Mr. Kakfwi. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.

---Carried

Bill 21 has had first reading. Item 16, first reading of bills. Item 17, second reading of bills. Item 18, consideration in committee of the whole of bills and other matters: Tabled Document 2-12(3), The Justice House - Report of the Special Advisor on General Equality; Tabled Document 3-12(3), Report of the Commission for Constitutional Development; Tabled Document 49-12(3), Long-Term Staff Housing Strategy; Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Social Assistance Act; Bill 17, Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1993-94; Minister's Statement 34-12(3), Long-Term Staff Housing Strategy; Committee Report 10-12(3), Report on Tabled Document 21-12(3): Payroll Tax Act; Committee Report 11-12(3), Report on the Review of the 1993-94 Main Estimates; Committee Report 12-12(3), Report No. 4, Talking and Working Together; appearance by members of commission for constitutional development; Tabled Document 66-12(3), Staff Housing Strategy Responses; and, Tabled Document 84-12(3), Long-Term Staff Housing Strategy Financial Implications Summary, with Mr. Ningark in the chair.