Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes.

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today, the Premier made a statement about her visit to the prospectors' and developers' conference. The Premier stated that she made a speech to the delegates at the conference in Toronto. The Premier is not here so I would like to ask the Premier's designate if a copy of that speech will be tabled or distributed in this House.

Mr. Pollard.

The speech will be tabled tomorrow, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Item 6, oral questions. Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Morin, concerning the rental increase. On the last question Mr. Allooloo asked, I understood him to say that regardless of improper or inadequate information they may have received in the Inuktitut translation, their rent will be increased. Is that my understanding?

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My understanding from the Housing Corporation, through contacting the local housing authorities, is they have indicated they would meet the deadline of counselling all their tenants and assessing rent by April 1, 1995. I once again say that if Members have the opportunity to talk to constituents and constituents do have a concern, Members of this House can also help to clarify this situation. We are going to go on the radio and become more aggressive to ensure that all people get the message, and get a very clear message. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Supplementary, Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think this is important and, in a way, I'm trying to help the Minister out here. I realize that he's going to be working with the housing authorities and the housing associations, but the translation into Inuktitut says "for those who earn more money and those who refuse to disclose their income will not pay rent." That's the translation from Inuktitut to English. All we are getting is that these unilingual Inuit who cannot read English will be charged increased rent, even though they have received this notice provided by the Housing Corporation to the housing associations and authorities. Will the tenants of public housing pay increased rent if they do not show up to verify their income with housing associations and authorities?

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The information I've received to date -- and I have not received all the information -- I have nothing in writing which says what the honourable Member has just said about how the translation is worded. I had the Housing Corporation contact some of the local housing authorities; for example, in Pangnirtung, I had them get in touch with the Pangnirtung Housing Authority; I'm getting a mixed message. What they say is that the tenants do not have a problem with the translation. What it says on the English side of this, it also says in the translation. So until I clarify that, I can't really answer the Member's question. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Ms. Mike.

Mr. Speaker, there are a number of unilingual Inuit not only in my riding but also in the Keewatin, Kitikmeot and Baffin. But, Mr. Speaker, the Minister is avoiding the questions that are being asked here. I realize he doesn't have the back translation which I asked for yesterday when I asked the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment to provide this. However, we have had the back translation done by the Legislative Assembly staff. What I read out was the back translation from Inuktitut to English. "For those who earn more money and those who refuse to disclose their income will not pay rent." That's from Inuktitut, and those unilingual people will understand it that way, Mr. Speaker.

If these tenants don't come to the housing association to verify their income, they think they're not going to pay. If they don't verify their income, will they be assessed at the maximum ceiling rent as was set by the honourable Member for Iqaluit? Thank you.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I previously said -- and let me make it perfectly clear to the Member, I'm not avoiding the question and I am answering the question -- the information I have -- and I have to depend on the department to give me the information from the local housing authorities as to how the rent scale is being implemented in the region -- is that the English translated into Inuktitut is the same

as what is said in English. Now the Member has some other information. In this case, I'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt to the people we are all elected to serve. I will look into the situation.

If that is what that notice says -- and I don't know that yet -- then we'll have to work that problem out with the tenants and the local housing authorities. So I don't see a problem with that. Thank you.

Thank you. Final supplementary, Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wouldn't say anything that would mislead this House, especially on something like this that affects a lot of lives, especially in the Nunavut communities.

I understood, when Mr. Allooloo was asking questions to the Minister, if the public housing tenants don't come to the housing association or the authority to verify their income, they will have to pay a ceiling rent. That's a very simple question. He won't answer it, Mr. Speaker, and I want an answer.

Ms. Mike, Members cannot demand an answer. Also, there was no question there; you didn't ask a question. Ms. Mike.

(Microphone turned off)

(Microphone turned off)...supplementary. Do you still want to use your final supplementary for a question? Ms. Mike.

Mr. Speaker, my question was -- I repeat, again -- if public housing tenants don't go to the housing association or authority to verify their income, will they pay a ceiling rent that is proposed by the Housing Corporation?

Mr. Morin.