Thank you, Madam Speaker and colleagues. My question is directed to the Minister of Personnel. In the budget, which the Minister of Finance introduced in this House, there are some new positions. What is the government's plan with providing housing for the new positions identified in 1994-95 budget in level II and III communities?

Thank you. Minister of Personnel, Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. There are ongoing talks with Cabinet, between Mr. Morin and myself. The position was stated by Mr. Morin, when he made the reply to Mr. Ng's question. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. This is a new question.

Mr. Ningark, there are others who wanted to ask questions, so I will proceed with them first. The honourable Member for Iqaluit, Mr. Patterson.

Thank you. Minister of Personnel.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. At the present time, the GNWT's position is that we get out of staff housing. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

I am going to elaborate a bit, Madam Speaker, because I don't believe the honourable Minister understood my question. Her department is responsible for the long-term staff housing strategy. I would like to know, is it a policy in the sense of a written description of levels of service that will be provided in implementing this strategy through the Northwest Territories? Is it a written policy such as the business incentive policy and other policies of the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Personnel.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I will take his question as notice.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Kitikmeot, Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. It is unclear whether the Department of Public Works and Services or the Department of Personnel is involved in the government staff

housing strategy. I will direct the question first to the Minister of Public Works and Services, as his department is responsible for disposal of the units. It is my understanding after the next round of staff housing sales, that all the remaining units in level II and III communities will be sold by public tender. Is that a correct assumption on my part? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. No, that is not correct. The houses have been offered once more to the employees. Only those houses that are declared surplus by the Department of Personnel will be offered for general sale. We are not even close to that step yet. Right now, it is only those people who are living in the units, in level II and III communities, who can purchase them. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ng.

Current policy states that a current tenant is eligible to initiate the process. Is there an allowance to allow non-tenants, GNWT staff, to purchase these staff housing units?

Thank you. Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. It is fairly straightforward. Those people who are living in those units, are the people who are offered the units they are living in. I understand in Cambridge Bay there is a problem with some units because some government people are living in units and those units were reallocated prior to December 16. But those people who were unable to move into those units were unable to move in prior to December 16 because the people living in there had not finished their homes yet. So in that case, we could look at it on an individual basis. But in general, it's only those people who are living in their units.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ng.

I would like to ask the Minister if the classification of GNWT employees includes term employees, or is it only the full-time employees who are eligible for these purchases?

Thank you. Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Morin.