Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Miltenberger.

Minister of Justice, Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the RCMP regionalization plan is still under way. They're keeping us apprised of developments as it moves forward. There aren't any identified savings to date because it is a moving study. They're anticipating, by the end of the 1996 year or during the course of this year, that they will have some of those numbers firmed up, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Evaloarjuk.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Justice and it's with regard to a previous year. There was a bowhead whale hunt in 1994. I'm wondering what the Department of Justice has done about the charges being laid. Is there a possibility of the charges that have been laid being dropped? There are a lot of organizations, such as ITC and Nunavut Tunngavik, who have supported the hunters in Igloolik; however, the GNWT Department of Justice has never been involved in this issue. The bowhead whale hunt that happened did not interfere with aboriginal rights. I think it's within the aboriginal people's rights to hunt the bowhead whale. The reason they hunted the bowhead whale was to grant an elder's wish to have some more muktuk before he

passed on. A lot of regions in the Nunavut area supported the hunt. However, I want to find out what the Minister of Justice will do to make the federal government drop the charges for those hunters. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Just to make it clear with the Members, I'm not aware of the case itself and I understand that the charges may have been dropped. But if they haven't been dropped and it's still in the courts, then the question must be ruled out of order. I'll ask the Minister for clarification on this issue.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the charges were federal charges from the Attorney General's office. To my understanding it is still before the courts, so I can't comment on that. Thank you.

Under the sub judice convention, we can't ask questions when matters are still in front of the courts if a decision hasn't been made yet, so I must rule the question out of order.

--- Ruled Out of Order.

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of the NWT Housing Corporation. Mr. Speaker, on May 8, 1996, during his Minister's statement, Mr. Arlooktoo indicated to this House that he had a meeting with the federal Minister. His senior officials met with the senior officials of the federal Minister of Housing. He also indicated there was an additional $9 million given to the territorial government from the federal government. He also indicated that there is a need for housing in the area of 3,000 units in the NWT, if I'm not mistaken.

Gjoa Haven happens to be one of the communities in the Territories that has a severe housing shortage. People are now living in units without running water. Gjoa Haven is also one of the fastest-growing populations in the Territories. Will the community of Gjoa Haven be seriously considered for allocation of units from the additional $9 million? Will the community of Gjoa Haven be considered seriously by the Minister? Thank you.

The Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation, Mr. Arlooktoo.

Mr. Speaker, I believe what the Member is talking about is the initiative announced by the federal government on northern housing; while the federal government, on one hand, is taking $ 10 million off our base, they announced one-time funding on remote housing for $10 million. It's a current issue that we're working on. The northern remote housing dollars that were identified will be

distributed and used, based on need in the communities. I understand and appreciate that the Member's community, along with many others, is in dire need of extra housing. So, based on that -the needs survey and applications -- I will assure the Member that it will receive fair consideration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. According to my understanding, having had a meeting with the people of Gjoa Haven, having had to visit the homes in the community, I know there is a need for housing in that particular community and I believe that community deserves to have very serious consideration from the Minister. How soon will the Minister determine which community will be allocated much-needed units within the system? Thank you.

Mr. Arlooktoo.

Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, the allocations are based on need, on actual surveys that are done in the communities. 1, as Minister, do not play a part in hand-picking communities and individuals who will get housing, but I am aware that Gjoa Haven is on the list, as many, many other communities are, of needing houses immediately. That's all I can report.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I realize the honourable Minister is not in the group which hand-picks which community will be allocated the units. How soon will the Minister be able to tell me and this House that government will determine which community will be allocated, using the funds that this government has received from the federal government? How soon will be the Minister be able to tell me which community will be allocated the units? Thank you.

Mr. Arlooktoo.

Mr. Speaker, about two weeks ago, I wrote to all Members to inform them of the allocations of houses to their communities, based on this year's construction season. Since then, the Housing Corporation has been working on a second list of allocations to communities with this new federal money. I expect to have this list within the next 10 days to two weeks and, once I receive that, I will provide it to the Member.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Krutko.

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, where an individual lives, no matter what status they have or where they originated, is their personal choice. If that individual is not in our care, in a facility for medical purposes or social services purposes, in the case of a child, then we would not have ongoing responsibilities for providing services to a resident who was not in the Northwest Territories, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.