Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I indicated earlier, I would like to direct a couple of questions to the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation and in particular in relation to the work of the department with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. I would like to ask in light of the corporation's diminished presence in the Northwest Territories, what action is our Housing Corporation taking to revitalize the federal presence in the housing development in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I certainly appreciate the question raised today by the Member. We have undertaken a number of new approaches to how we work with a number of agencies across the Northwest Territories and those who have a vested interest in housing. The housing issues are raised from community to community, so we are trying to invite the federal government to invest that into a social housing program in the Northwest Territories. So that is still underway and we hope to continue to press the issue. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Allen. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Given the pressure of booming economies in some communities, it is showing up first for the people on the lower end of the economic scale. What work is the Minister undertaking with other departments in the social envelope with his Ministers in those departments so that we can ensure that those people are housed with dignity and respect and with something they can afford? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform the Member and also the House that we are trying to develop...building an apartment unit in Yellowknife specifically to address the current housing problem through a rent supplementary program. We realize that there has been some tremendous impact upon the rental market here in the city, so we are trying to develop new ways to address that key issue. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Allen. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a problem that is not just coming down the pipe. It is literally at doorsteps today. Is there a contingency plan in place now, Mr. Speaker, that will assist those low income, those desperate families that are showing up and have very few if any options? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we are trying to deal with it as quickly as possible. Although we have some existing corporation leases with private landlords, we are also working with a private construction firm in the city to try to eradicate some of the demands on public rental units. So we are constantly working with various agencies and groups and business as well to meet those market needs. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Allen. Item 6, oral Questions. The honourable Member for Hay River North, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I was listening to the Members talking about the fur industry and putting programs in place for the price of fuel. I would just like to bring to the attention of the House and to the Minister responsible for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development that we have another industry out there that is always struggling for survival and is very dependent on the price of fuel. It is a big part of their industry. I refer to the fishing industry. I was wondering if the Minister is keeping the fishing industry in mind and could give some assurance to the fishermen that his department is willing to work with them and help them out this coming winter on the price of fuel? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. The honourable Minister Handley.

Mr. Speaker, yes. We do recognize the importance of a fishing industry. We have for many years worked closely with the fishermen's association. We continue to work with them. We did develop a strategy and a proposal to realign some of the support we provide. One of those main programs, of course, is the transportation subsidy we provide to get the fish off the lake to the fish plants. I can say without any doubt that that program will certainly continue. The fishing industry currently have the strategy and we are awaiting their response to us. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Do I take that from the Minister then to mean that at the least there will be no decreases from subsidies or programs they received in the last fishing season of the last year? There will be no reductions in those programs for this coming season? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. The honourable Minister responsible for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, this year we have not made any reductions in the program. The strategy will enable the fishermen's association, if they choose to, to move money around from one area to another. The allocation from RWED remains the same. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Would the Minister commit to be willing to meet with the fishermen at the beginning of the season if they are having a hard time getting going to talk about the price of fuel this coming winter and how it is going to impact them over the coming season? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. The honourable Minister responsible for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, I would be pleased to meet with the fishermen's association to discuss this issue and any other ones they may have. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Handley. Final supplementary, Mr. Delorey.