Mr. Chairman, I realize that the general comments have been exhaustive in the last few days and I don't want to prolong the opening remarks, but I would like to make two comments for the record.

First, the district consultation process was excellent. I participated in the one in Baffin. It was impressive that the corporation chose neutral chairpersons to steer the discussions and that gave people a lot of confidence that the Minister, president and the officials were genuinely open to new ideas.

Secondly, I would like to say that, although we are awaiting the Minister's response to the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Social Housing, I also wish to commend the Minister for being willing to share the decision-making with that committee. There was some concern that the committee might be only advisory or worse, a rubber stamp. My observations of that committee is that, in fact, the Minister has allowed Members to participate in decision-making on this critical issue, recognizing that it is sensitive and will require broad support in this Assembly, if it is to succeed. So I would like to commend him for that.

There is one area I would like to mention that I think is lacking in the corporation. I find the district staff responsive, beginning with the district manager. I think I have said this before in the House. But like the other department the Minister is responsible for, Public Works and Services, the Housing Corporation does not seem to be leading the way on affirmative action. I hope that when the new corporate goals and objectives are brought forward, that an aggressive affirmative action training program and policy to bring northern people into the corporation will be part of that strategy. My constituents have expressed to me that this is an area in which there could be more progress, particularly at the management level. It is hard work and it takes the aggressive recruitment of northern people to get them involved. It takes training person years, but I think this is an area that I will be looking for more progress and more corporate commitment in the new restructured corporation. Those are just comments, Mr. Chairman. They don't require a response. Thank you.