Mr. Speaker, since 1993, Tetlit'zheh Construction Ltd. has completed some 35 specific projects and generated $35.4 million in revenues. In 1995, Tetlit'zheh Construction generated $9 million in revenues and over $6 million went to materials, supplies, and subcontracts. $1.5 million of that went to the labour. In 1996, Tetlit'zheh Construction generated over $11 million in revenues, of that, $8 million went to materials, supplies, and subcontracts and over $2 million went to labour. The total revenues for those two years were almost $20 million, $14 million went to materials, suppliers, and subcontracts, and $3.5 million went to labour. Mr. Speaker, in relation to these dollars being left in the Inuvik and Mackenzie Delta region, in the Inuvik region alone, there were 41 subcontractors, which left $12,500,000 in the Inuvik economy. Also, there were two suppliers and subcontractors in Yellowknife, $1,600,000 was left in the Yellowknife economy. In Fort McPherson, there were 7 suppliers and subcontractors and $1,700,000 was left in Fort McPherson. Mr. Speaker, the point I am trying to make is that without negotiated contracts, a lot of these dollars would not remain in the communities. Especially in relation to revenues staying in communities and the regions in regards to negotiated contracts, which puts northern people to work and keeps the money in the north, especially in our region. With that, mahsi cho, thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with yesterday's session we came to the end of a very difficult budgetary road that we mapped out for ourselves 16 months ago. The amount of work that has been done by this Assembly and the government in this area has been unprecedented. While the process is not over, it is now time to turn our minds and attentions to other initiatives. One initiative I would like to briefly talk about today is going to affect every man, woman, and child in the Northwest Territories. That is the family law bills that are now before this House. We will be going across the Northwest Territories seeking input from the people. Mr. Speaker, there are acts that are going to affect children, families, parents, spouses, single parents, adopted children, there will be no one who is not unaffected by these particular pieces of legislation. It is going to be very important that the communities are aware of this information, they have a chance to look at it, provide input to ourselves, to their MLAs, and to the groups in their communities that are involved in these areas. Mr. Speaker, without a doubt this is the single biggest legislative amendment of this Assembly. It is not a political one. It is not talking about relationships with Ottawa

and looking at constitutions. It is talking about every day life in the communities and how people and families live together. I strongly urge all the MLAs, when they go back to their communities and all the people listening, to seriously look at these particular pieces of legislation. They are very important. The legislation we now have is years and years out of date and often contradicted itself. Now is the chance to make a change that is going to affect everybody beneficially. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends) I have used this and I made a quick call to my Aapaga in Inuvik. I have a couple of messages, one in Inuinnaqtun and I hope I get this right. (Translation unavailable) means I am going home soon.

-- Applause

I would like to also send a greeting back and I will do this in Inuktitut and I hope that I do it justice. To my family (Translation) I would like to say hello to my family in Inuvik. (Translation ends)

(Translation): Good morning, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. (Translation ends) Today, I would like to speak on Plan 2000 which was recently announced by the Minister for the NWT Housing Corporation. The title of 2,000 homes by the year 2,000 is certainly very catchy, Mr. Speaker. However, we do need to scrutinize this further and to seek further clarification on it. I would like to say a few words about the housing situation in the Territories. How many times have we heard that the NWT is in the midst of a housing crisis? It is very true. Plan 2,000 is a good bandwagon to jump on because of what it conjures up, our images of overcrowding, extended families living under one roof, matchbox houses, four children in one bed, wind howling through the cracks in the walls of substandard shacks. We associate housing crisis with aggravated social problems, lack of privacy, interrupted sleep for children who cannot stay awake in school. We all agree that basic shelter for our citizens is a laudable goal and a responsibility of this government, particularly those in most need. If those in crisis shortage of houses are the target of our housing initiatives as a government with limited resources, we do have to ask are we hitting the right target? The housing crisis shortage exists in level 2 and 3 communities, Mr. Speaker. They are designated as level 2 or 3 for a good

reason. They have the highest unemployment, the least developed economies and private sector markets, but, Mr. Speaker, while they are the poorest communities, they are also least likely to have many income earners between $50,000 and $90,000 per year who can walk into a chartered bank and secure a residential mortgage even with a downpayment assistance. Plan 2000 is directed to those employed in the wage economy. The question, therefore, needs to be asked, is this a program accessible to many people in level 1 communities like Yellowknife, Fort Smith and Hay River? But this is not where the housing crisis exists. Level 1 communities presently have a record number of homes on the market for sale. A 50 year low in interest rates and other incentives provided for first home buyers by CMHC have caused an increase in residential construction. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Qujannamiik (Translation unavailable) Safeguards have to be built in to ensure there is no unwarranted disruption in the private sector market in level 1 communities where there is no housing crisis. Also, the public needs more information and clarification on this particular issue. Mr. Speaker, I ask the Minister to address this particular concern. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation unavailable) Mahsi cho.

-- Applause