Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Before I start my statement, I would like to mention the warm hospitality of the people of Arviat.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to speak about access to social housing for handicapped people. Recently, I have been dealing with a request from the hamlet of Clyde River to provide access to public housing for a handicapped person. In looking into the matter, Mr. Speaker, with the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, I learned that such requests are dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

I am concerned that there should be a policy in place to deal with these situations. People who are tenants in social housing should know that the corporation will respond to their request for the special facilities required by handicapped people in an orderly way.

The policy should include the Department of Health and Social Services, which obviously has resources and responsibilities for handicapped persons. I would like to see CMHC included in this policy, since the federal government should be cost sharing any new facilities which are put into houses for handicapped persons.

I hope, Mr. Speaker, the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation, the Honourable Goo Arlooktoo, will consider my advice and direct his officials to take the lead to develop a government-wide policy for access to social housing units for handicapped persons. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--- Applause