Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am pleased to be back here in the Assembly after a wonderful week at the Arctic Winter Games. (Translation) I would like to congratulate the athletes. (End of translation)

However, here is my main concern. There are many Inuit in my riding who live in very crowded extended family situations. The sons and daughters are not living on their own because of a shortage of single or smaller housing units. Often you have whole families in a room.

Also, Inuit families are wiling to live together in conditions of considerable overcrowding because of their tradition of family closeness. Often, several sons and daughters will hold low income jobs and contribute to the operation of the household. The total household income may be higher than a single or double income household, but I am concerned that the proposed revised rent scale may not take into account the unbelievably crowded conditions in which many of these families live.

I am also concerned that rents in Nunavut must take into account the extraordinary costs of living in these communities which don't have wood and roads. I am, therefore, suggesting to the Minister of the Housing Corporation that the revised rent scale, if it does not already, must consider the degree of crowding in a unit along with total household income. There should be a significant discount built in where families are living in more crowded conditions than the ordinary standards.

Secondly, I am going to suggest that the cost of living and condition of the unit must be taken into account to reduce rent so as to provide for equity and fairness. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause