Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to make a short statement today to update Members on the northern manufacturing initiative. This initiative was started by the Housing Corporation to create employment opportunities and to encourage the development of manufacturing businesses in the NWT.

Through this initiative, the Housing Corporation has broken down large material tender packages to encourage northern manufacturers to bid. In 1993-94, the corporation entered into multi-year contracts with northern firms to manufacture specific housing materials. In addition to these long-term contracts, the corporation has listed which materials must be manufactured in the NWT in their contracts.

The Housing Corporation spends approximately $17 million each year on construction materials. Although virtually all materials for corporation houses are purchased from northern suppliers, most of these products have been manufactured in the south.

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For the 1995-96 construction year we expect that figure to rise to over 25 per cent. This represents more than $4 million in expenditures going back into our northern economy.

The following housing materials are being manufactured in the Northwest Territories: windows; doors; kitchen and bathroom cabinets; fuel tanks and fuel tank stands; dimensional lumber; foundation screwjacks; roof trusses; tubs and tub surrounds; and, sewage and water tanks.