Thank you. The honourable Minister for Housing.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, we will develop that issue paper for the advisory committee, similar to the home ownership program, what we use with CNIT, what it takes to actually run a house for the land, taxes, construction, power, water, sewer and fuel, all the O and M costs of running a house.

Thank you. General comments. The honourable Member for Iqaluit.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm very pleased with that response. I think it could improve the document.

Basically, as I understand it, you're taking the cap off rents in Nunavut. The Minister says everywhere, but the fact is that it's only the Nunavut communities where there's been a cap, almost everywhere else the cap was taken off some years ago. At any rate, you're taking the cap off rents in my constituency. But I'm told that the administrative formula for provision of staff to Iqaluit caps the staffing at 4.5 for 250 units, even though the Iqaluit Housing Authority is administering 352 units.

I would like to ask the Minister -- and he's heard me ranting and raving about the burdens on the staff, and I think there's some reference in this strategy to the need for training for staff -- is part of the strategy for the successful implementation of this new rental scale recognizing the tremendous amount of community development, tenant counselling, education required? Is part of the corporation's strategy to provide additional staff resources to the hard-pressed staff, especially in the larger communities, who are already over-taxed in just administering the program as it is, and in getting people to pay the minimal rents, let alone adding $1,000 or more to those minimal rents in a month? Thank you.

Qujannamiik. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, we will be working with the local housing authorities. We will be working to train and support the staff at the local housing authorities throughout the Northwest Territories. If needed, on a very temporary basis, we will be using our own staff to work with them, spend more time with them to get this implemented properly. And also, we'll be very much involved in the consultation with the clients. Thank you.

Thank you. Member for Iqaluit.

I should try to give other Members a chance, Mr. Chairman, so I'll make this my last question although I have many more. I understand from the information in the rent scale, that there are some 173 tenants in my constituency who are facing rent increases. A clear majority of the rent increase is of at least $500 and up to and over $1,000. These people should be encouraged to be candidates for home ownership. Today, in Iqaluit -- and I've spoken to the Minister of Municipal Affairs about this -- I have a constituent who is an access client for this year's Housing Corporation program who cannot get a lot. Today there is no residential land identified in my constituency, even though there are over 100 people who may be encouraged to consider home ownership. I would like to ask the Minister, given that the shortage of land in my constituency, and maybe in others, may well be a barrier to home ownership which is a companion of this rent increase program, does the Housing Corporation have, or will the Housing Corporation develop, perhaps in consultation with MACA, a strategy to provide land so that eligible candidates won't face that barrier if they're interested in taking the plunge into home ownership? Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I listened the other day in the House when the Member raised that issue. Right away I thought, well, no lots, no houses. I've instructed my staff already to work with MACA to develop a strategy so that we have land and building lots available. We need them. Thank you.

Thank you. General comments. Does the committee agree that Tabled Document 2-12(6) is concluded?

Agreed.

---Agreed

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to thank the committee for raising the issues they've raised, for their concerns, and their advice. I would like to thank the special committee on social housing for their advice, as well. I would also like to thank very much my two staff members here and the others who worked so hard on this document. I wish Members the best of luck tomorrow, I won't be here. See you all in Fort Smith. Thank you.

Thank you. On behalf of the committee, I would like to thank the honourable Minister and

his witnesses for appearing before the committee. Thank you. Mr. Koe.

Mr. Chairman, since the business of this House seems to be finished, I move that we report progress.

Thank you. There is a motion on the floor to report progress. The motion is not debatable. We don't have a quorum here. Ring the bell. Thank you. There is a motion on the floor to report progress. The motion is not debatable. All those in favour? The motion is unanimous. I will rise and report progress. Thank you.

---Applause

I will call the House back to order. Item 19, report of committee of the whole. The honourable Member for Natilikmiot, Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Your committee has been considering Minister's Statement 6-12(6), Tabled Document 2-12(6) and Tabled Document 7-12(6) and would like to report progress that Minister's Statement 6-12(6), Tabled Document 2-12(6) are concluded and, Madam Speaker, I move that the report of committee of the whole be concurred with. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Is there a seconder for your motion? The honourable Member for Inuvik, Mr. Koe. Your motion is in order. To the motion. The honourable Member for Natilikmiot, Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I missed one item. I would like to do this again one more time and would like to report progress that Minister's Statement 6-12(6), Tabled Document 2-12(6) and Tabled Document 7-12(6) are concluded. Madam Speaker, I move that the committee of the whole be concurred with. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you. Just to ensure our procedures are correct, Mr. Ningark, I would like to ask, with the concurrence of your seconder, that your first motion is rescinded.

Agreed.

---Agreed

Madam Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to rescind the first motion. Thank you.