Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I would like to thank the NWT Housing Corporation and the YWCA. It did an excellent job earlier this year by finding a way to do more for people in transition by spending fewer tax dollars. I am referring to the decision to shift the YWCA's transitional housing program from Northern United Place to the Rock Hill apartment complex in Yellowknife. This excellent move took a program to serve individuals and families out of an institutional high rise and set it up in a building more suited to its objectives. Because of this move, the government has also saved about $200,000 annually that it had contributed towards the program.

A lot of people throughout the north come here to make changes in their lives. Approximately half of the YWCA's current clients come from communities from throughout the north. The other half are Yellowknife residents trying to re-build their lives. All of them are involved in either job searches, life-skill training programs or educational upgrading. Long term projects that will eventually lead to a better quality of life for those people.

Transitional housing has also helped families who have made the difficult decision to leave a battering or abusive spouse who have used up their six weeks crisis housing at McAteer House. A lot of people need programs like the YWCA's transitional housing program in order to turn their lives around. It is incumbent upon this government, therefore, to invest those savings from this program back into this community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.