Thank you, Madam Speaker, honourable Members. Madam Speaker, I'm pleased to present the first report of the Advisory Committee on Social Housing. The Advisory Committee on Social Housing is a unique committee in our Legislature. It was designed to provide the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation with advice on major housing issues.

The committee also reviews proposals for housing strategies, programs, and policies. The committee provides Members and the Minister with an opportunity to work together on housing issues in a cooperative, non-adversarial way that is in keeping with our consensus government.

Madam Speaker, the advisory committee process has worked well. We have discussed many housing issues, ranging from federal funding cuts to the review of the rent scale. The committee Members are satisfied that their concerns are taken seriously by the Minister and the corporation. Housing issues are complicated, but no other issue as deeply affects the basic quality of life of all our constituents. Housing means homes. Homes where people raise their families and try to build a better life for themselves. We are facing serious challenges in housing today. Funding cuts by the federal government have left us with a severe housing shortage to address on our own. Our young and growing population means this shortage will get worse. We must find new and better ways to provide more housing and make the best use of the housing we have.

These are very difficult issues, Madam Speaker. But we must work together for the good of all the people we serve. Through open consultation and sharing of information and ideas, the advisory committee has been able to work as a team with the Minister to address these issues.

The next year also promises to be a busy one for the committee. Earlier this year, consultation meetings were held in every Northwest Territories community. The committee also moved forward with plans to review the recommendations from the communities and district consultation meetings later on this summer. We will report back to the House next fall with our recommendations on the corporation's community consultation framework. Just for the record, Madam Speaker, when I refer to the consultation meetings that were held in every Northwest Territories community, those were the housing authorities that held the consultation meetings, not the Advisory Committee on Social Housing.

Madam Speaker, in closing, I would like to thank the Minister and other Members of the Advisory Committee on Social Housing for their goodwill and cooperation over the past year. I hope that this spirit of working together through the difficult issues we face will continue. Madam Speaker, that concludes the first report of the Advisory Committee on Social Housing.

Motion To Receive And Adopt Committee Report 1-12(6), Carried

Therefore, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Natilikmiot, that the first report of the Advisory Committee on Social Housing be received by the Assembly and adopted. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause