Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Picco on March 27th, regarding the transfer of staff housing to the NWT Housing Corporation.

In June 1995, PW&S transferred the administration of the staff housing inventory, including lease administration for leased units and for unit allocations, to the Housing Corporation. On April 1, 1996, the NWT Housing Corporation assumed maintenance responsibilities which will be carried out in most cases by local housing organizations. In some communities, the maintenance function will be contracted out.

The Member is correct in saying that most LHOs will now manage these properties. However, the Financial Management Board Secretariat retains the policy and program approval responsibilities over the GNWT's staff housing program. In effect, the corporation and the LHOs are acting as a contractor to the FMBS, to deliver staff housing based upon FMBS's guidelines and policies. Therefore, the budget for this program will be kept separate from the social housing budget, and the by-laws and guidelines governing social housing program delivery will not apply to staff housing.