Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I think that I should also point out before I respond to the question that there were two parts to the goals that were set by the department, the first of which the honourable Member has mentioned, which is to encourage home ownership. The second goal was to encourage home owners to pay for their taxes on time so that the tax-based municipalities would not run into cash flow problems. To the question, I would like to answer by saying that I do support the home ownership rebate program. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ballantyne.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The Minister is, I'm sure, aware that the sum of money involved here is probably only about $350,000 which is a relatively small sum of money when you look at the impact that this sort of program has had on home ownership in the Northwest Territories. My question to the Minister is, can we expect the Minister to come forward with a supp in the fall session that restores the home ownership rebate to its previous level?

Thank you. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I wasn't a Member of the Cabinet at the time that the reduction was made by the government, but it was a reduction made in an effort to cut down costs of this government. I think it is regrettable that we had to come to that, to cut down in an area that people of the Northwest Territories have to bear. But, I think that, due to the restraint that we are experiencing today, it would be difficult to try to justify such an appropriation. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Ballantyne.

If the Minister of Finance does his job, all Ministers are discouraged from coming forward with expenditures of funds. I think it is the responsibility of individual Members to priorize in their departments and make a strong case. So, rather than have the Minister presuppose the decision of the FMB and the Finance Minister, I will ask again, will the Minister take forward to the Financial Management Board a proposal to restore the rates to their previous level? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Hear, hear.

Thank you. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to say that I sympathize with the Member pushing so strongly for such an appropriation to be made, but I would not support such a case. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Lewis.

Thank you. Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. That is a good question. There have been some discussions going on with respect to finding ways and means to encourage the mining industry and, in particular, this large diamond find out there, to relocate into the Northwest Territories and utilize our services, so it would not be a fly-in and fly-out type of operation.

One of the areas of concern with the mining industry is what they perceive as the high cost of housing. I have had some discussion, along with other Ministers, with the industry in respect to the potential and possible utilization of some government surplus apartments and housing, yes.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

I realize he doesn't have responsibility for housing, but this is a major economic activity. Has the Minister been able to determine the number of units that could be made available in order to support this industry?

Thank you. Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. We are currently working on that at the present time. There is an overall assessment being done anyway with respect to the selling off of government housing, whether it is here or in the east. I want to make it clear that I am sympathetic and supportive of this initiative. I hope that we will be able to identify some surplus housing and I hope we will be able to make a deal with the mining industry, given everything being equal. It will bring significant economic benefits not just to Yellowknife, but across the territories, in corporate spending, income tax, consumer purchasing, et cetera. The housing is one package of encouragement we are putting on the table, but there are a variety of others, as well. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am very pleased to hear the Minister is sympathetic and that there has been some contact. Since this would have to be a Cabinet decision and he would have to have support from his Cabinet colleagues, has this issue been raised at the Cabinet level so other Members can react to it?

Thank you. Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, Mr. Todd.

No, there have only been preliminary discussions with some of the mining industry. I haven't prepared a paper to present to Cabinet and seek their counsel. I was merely stating my position as the Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources and Economic Development and Tourism.

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Lewis.