Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That is certainly a point that has crossed our minds. If the Government of the Northwest Territories, decided to step in and provide additional housing, does that take the federal government off the hook, so to speak? Does it make it easier for them? I guess the short answer would be yes, in the short term, but our demographics and the way our population is growing right now will ensure that unless they step in fairly soon, what you will likely have is a situation here in the north similar to the news report you saw of Davis Inlet, et cetera. I think, with the housing program that we have now where we encourage home ownership and less dependence on the government which allows some people in social housing to move out of those houses and open some houses up for the less fortunate, that we have contained a part of the problem. The day will come, in the not too distant future, in a matter of a few years, I think, that unless the federal government steps in, and we have shown them all the numbers, that we will have much larger problems. I believe that they understand it. The, mention made by Minister Stewart in her address on her response, I think was significant but as I said in my opening comments, disappointed that they did not go that next step, but we expect them to sometime down the road.
Goo Arlooktoo on Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
In the Legislative Assembly on February 20th, 1998. See this statement in context.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 19th, 1998
Page 979
Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South
See context to find out what was said next.