Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The information I have received from CMHC so far is that they are closing approximately 24 regional CMHC offices. They are not going to close the office in the Northwest Territories. The offices that are closed will have a residential CMHC official to handle all concerns that are directed to CMHC and those officials will be working out of their homes, I believe. There is also mention that there will be a $270 million cut throughout Canada for CMHC, and that cut will be from potential savings that CMHC as well as ourselves and every jurisdiction were able to save through refinancing of mortgages. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Ballantyne.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Minister well knows, we are very dependent on the O and M federal component to pay for the maintenance of approximately 5,000 housing units or whatever we have here in the territories. Does the Minister feel that the O and M funding from the federal government is in any jeopardy?

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You never know what the federal government means when they say something because the last time they said they were going to cap the growth on social housing programs, and when they said they were going to cap the growth it turned out to be a 100 per cent cut in new construction of social housing. So we are still trying to decipher what they mean. The minute I have a better idea of what they actually mean by a $270 million cut from the savings, I will let the Members of the Assembly know. Thank you.

Item 6, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Ballantyne.

Thank you. On a couple of other occasions I brought up this concept to the Minister. I think we all recognize that there is a potential threat to the O and M cutting; it's a fatted calf just waiting there for somebody to start to strip the meat off. Would the Minister consider making a proposal to the federal government to look at turning over the existing funding the federal government has for O and M for housing before they start to cut it? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If that is the way to go and if that is the way we can ensure that we can guarantee the funding for the future, we will take a serious look at it. But we also have legal and binding agreements with CMHC on long-term mortgages on our rental units. As far as I understand it, we are locked into them and they are legal agreements that they cannot be cut. I will look at it and see if it's viable to do anything else. Thank you.

Item 6, oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister Education, Culture and Employment. Can the Minister advise this House whether or not a day care subsidy policy has been developed? Thank you.

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you. If I might, I can indicate to the honourable Member that we have had changes to the child care programs that have existed in the Northwest Territories and redefined them since September.

Item 6, oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just to follow up, can the Minister indicate to me whether or not a policy has been developed and completed? Thank you.

Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, and in fact, Mr. Speaker, I believe we sent copies of the policies to all Members to inform them of the changes that have been made to the policy so that Members will be aware. We have also sent them to the communities.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That's what I thought; I just wanted to make sure. I want to ask the Minister what the criteria is that is used by his department to

determine subsidies for child care for individuals who require them, particularly students. Thank you.

Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just so Members are aware, the child care user subsidy program now includes a new, more equitable subsidy for parents based on the needs test. Part-time child care is now available, including after school care. As well, assistance is available for parents who are not employed or are studying but whose children are at risk and would benefit from a program of early intervention.

The other component is the child care start-up support and the contributions to assist the start-up cost of licensed, non-profit child care programs have been enhanced. We are providing additional assistance to promote more openings for infants and children requiring additional support. This contribution is now available to assist the start-up of part-time and after-school programs. The support is available for minor health and safety renovations. There is also the issue of program support, training and wage incentives for caregivers. The other issue we are now working on is the approach to early interventions as a part of the overall child care program.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Final supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For the past while I have been getting calls from many of the students who are unable to access the child care subsidy program. The Minister indicated there is a means test with respect to this. Can he indicate to this House what criteria they use on implementing the needs test that they have developed? Thank you.

Mr. Nerysoo.