Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, at the end of 1995-96, we're forecasting $38.3 million of deficit. Mr. Speaker, with regard to the health billings dispute, we've allowed for certain write-downs in our books. The outcome of this afternoon's negotiation which is, I believe, taking place now with regard to the health billings dispute will tell us whether we have to make any further write-downs, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of the Housing Corporation. As you are aware, people are gradually obtaining their own forms of housing. People seem to have very strict rules that they have to follow in order to obtain housing, such as home ownership and HAP. This is dependent upon their housing needs, of course, but they seem to have very rigid rules that have to be followed. What does the act say itself, when it comes to home ownership? Is there some freedom on the part of the clients who want to apply for housing? What is the criteria to have applications approved for HAP housing? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Housing, Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Under the new Housing Corporation programs, there are many programs that people can access for home ownership units. If people are of lower income and are elderly, they can access alternate units, and other people with medium income can access units that are the three-bedroom, four-bedroom, five-bedroom units for bigger families. There is also the down payment assistance program, as well as a forgivable loan program and the direct lending program. There is also a program called bridge financing, where we can lend them the money until they secure their financing from banks. So there are all types of programs that people can access. If any of your constituents are having any problem accessing home ownership programs, if you can tell me about it I will be pleased to assist them. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am aware that in my constituency my people have not had any freedom of choice to select the kind of housing that they want. There were some people who were allowed to get a three-bedroom house and the reason I am asking that is I was wondering if they are all allowed to get the same kind of housing of their choice. Do they have the freedom to select how many rooms and all the other details? Is it up to the clients to decide what kind of housing is best suited for them? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The process is once a client does apply for a unit, staff from the Housing Corporation, project officers, will meet with that client to counsel that client. For example, if a client has two teenage children and one small child, then they will be eligible for a three-bedroom unit. But if a client has six children, then they will be eligible for a bigger unit. So it is all based on the client themselves. So, in some cases, we are building up to five-bedroom units and, in some cases, as small as two.

But we have changed the Housing Corporation program since we got elected. There used to be approximately 30 different designs you could choose from, we got rid of all of those and we made three basic designs: a two-bedroom unit, a three-bedroom unit and a four-bedroom unit. But all of those designs can be expanded on; for example, if you had two children and you moved into a two-bedroom unit and your family got bigger, then you could add two more bedrooms on or one more bedroom very easily, at a later date, and a partition could come out to make the living area bigger. If a client did not want, for example, the screw jack system for a foundation, there would be a dollar amount in his budget. So if he is allowed $4,000 for a foundation system and he wanted to put a basement instead, that would be allowable as long as he picked up the extra dollars.

Also what we made very clear is because we have restricted the designs now to a minimum of three, clients can also choose to build their own designs, as long as it is CMHC approved and it falls within their need. In that way, clients have a lot of ability to do what they want with that unit. But it has to be brought in for the same amount of money and it has to be brought in on time, the construction time. Thank you.

Thank you. Question period is now over. Item 7, written questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have two written questions for the Premier.

1. Would the Premier advise this House whether or not there are any universal government definitions on what constitutes a community-based organization?

2. Are there any processes in place for a community to sanction the establishment and/or existence of community-based organizations? Thank you.

Thank you. Item 7, written questions. Item 8, returns to written questions. Mr. Clerk.

Item 9, replies to opening address. Item 10, replies to budget address. Item 11, petitions. Item 12, reports of standing and special committees. Item 13, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 14, tabling of documents. Item 15, notices of motion. Item 16, notices of motions for first reading of bills. Item 17, motions. Item 18, first reading of bills. Item 19, second reading of bills. Item 20, consideration in committee of the whole of bills and other matters: Bill 1, Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96; Bill 4, An Act to Amend the Limitation of Actions Act; Bill 6, An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products Tax Act; Bill 8, An Act to Amend the Dental Mechanics Act; Bill 9, An Act to Amend the Legal Profession Act; Bill 10, An Act to Amend the Liquor Act; Bill 11, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act; Bill 12, An Act to Amend the Judicature Act, No. 2; Bill 14, Miscellaneous Statutes Amending Act, 1994; Committee Report 2-12(7), Report on the Legislative Action Paper on the Office of Ombudsman for the Northwest Territories; and, Committee Report 3-12(7), Report on the Review of the Legislative Action Paper Proposing New Heritage Legislation for the Northwest Territories, with Mr. Lewis in the chair.

I would like to call the committee to order. What would the committee like to do today? Mr. Dent.

Okay, that is the proposed order then. Does the committee agree with that proposal?

Agreed.

---Agreed

We are on Bill 4, as agreed, An Act to Amend the Limitation of Actions Act. All right, who is introducing this bill? Mr. Kakfwi.

Minister's Introductory Remarks

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Now we will hear the report from the Standing Committee on Legislation. Mr. Whitford.

Standing Committee On Legislation Comments

Thank you, Mr. Whitford. Mr. Kakfwi would you like to proceed with review of his bill? Would you like to do it from your seat, Mr. Kakfwi, or will you need help?