Thank you. Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Approximately 450 units.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. The northern rental purchase program was set up in such a way so that tenants could apply money paid in rent towards a purchase price. This was a credit that was accumulated and, in combination with other adjustments, would eventually reduce the purchase price of a unit. Since the late 1950s, early 1960s, tenants have been in these units and if they are still in these units, they must have accumulated a lot of credit.

Can the Minister indicate as to whether or not the Housing Corporation is still calculating and accumulating credits for tenants in northern rental units?

Thank you. Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The sale of the northern rental units is based on credits for past rent due. When a given tenant requests to purchase the unit, the Housing Corporation will send in staff to deal with that tenant on a one-to-one basis. They will figure out the rent they have paid in the past, make the calculations and sell the unit for a very small price. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

As I mentioned, there must have been accumulation. There are approximately 450 units, so there must be an accumulation of credits somewhere. Does the Minister have any idea about the number of credits accumulated by tenants over the years?

Thank you. Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I doubt very much if there is any information available about accumulated credits for all 450 units because the Housing Corporation deals with this on a one-to-one basis with the client. Client's rents vary, the conditions of the units vary and, in some cases, we wouldn't even sell these units to clients because some of them are in very, very bad shape and they are better off burned. But, because of our housing shortage, we are still using these units. Thank you.

Final supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Mahsi. The original intent of the northern rental program was to provide affordable housing to northerners who

would be able to purchase these and own their own homes. So, my supplementary to the Minister is, is this still the intent of the program.

Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Morin.

Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Baffin South, Mr. Pudlat.