Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I heard the Minister indicate that there will be consideration for log homes. I wonder if the Minister is considering the use of modular homes or trailers to address the social housing in his proposed redesign.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are a number of new methodologies I would like to introduce to the communities. Again, it is in the context of what is affordable housing? In some areas in the South Mackenzie, we feel perhaps modular homes would be ideal. In other remote communities, again we talk about log structures being more affordable. It varies from region to region. That is why it is important that we travel into communities with the residing MLAs who know what the requirements are and what is most affordable to that community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Allen. Supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My final supplementary is on the involvement of aboriginal development corporations. In the provision of social housing units has there been any dialogue with these development corporations, and are they interested?

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In reference to the Member's question, and again, I go back to our presentation to the Standing Committee on Social Programs, we did communicate with the local development corporations. There is some initiative to work with them. There is a plan for perhaps some leaseback arrangements. We will continue to consult with the committee leadership to further that interest. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Allen. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question this afternoon is in regard to the Diavik project and I would direct it to the Minister responsible for Finance, who has been designated as the government's lead Minister on this project. Just recently, Mr. Speaker, the mine cleared one of the permitting requirements for a land use permit, but another deadline looms for another important part of their permitting and that regards land leases, which are in the jurisdiction of the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.

A new regime comes into effect at the end of March, Mr. Speaker, whereby this kind of authority would go over to the Mackenzie Valley Land and Waters Act, if I have my information correct. The consequence for Diavik could be considerably more overlap, duplication and cost. My question for the Minister is whether he can advise the Assembly of the status of these land leases now before the Minister responsible for DIAND. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Minister, Mr. Handley, regarding a special assignment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The information the Member summarized is essentially correct, but Diavik needs a land lease. As of April 1, 2000, the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act, Part 4, comes into effect, which gives the responsibility for water permits, licenses and land use permits to that board. If Diavik does not get their land lease by April 1st, 2000, then they would have to apply for a land use permit, which would go through a 42 day consulting period and so on.

If they carry on with the land lease, they do not need a land use permit. The federal Minister is aware of the situation and, I am sure, is handling it. The other condition that the federal government has placed on the issuing of the necessary permits and so on, was that there be some satisfactory progress on participation agreements and I understand two of those have been completed and the others are proceeding along. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I cannot provide that kind of assurance. That is really a decision that has to be made by the federal Minister responsible for DIAND. I can assure the Member though, we know the federal Minister is aware of the situation. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Nitah.

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. The Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The funding process that is used for schools is used through the district education councils, who in turn, allocate funding to the communities and it is mostly based on enrolment. I am not sure whether there is direct funding by the department for recreational or sports programs in addition to that funding. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Supplementary, Mr. Nitah.

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. The Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am also aware that we have Municipal and Community Affairs that runs the recreation program. There may need to be some co-ordinating and checking with that particular operation to see what programs they have available. With regard to the department providing specific programs, we do have an arrangement to work directly with the district education councils and I think, we would have to co-ordinate through that process. I am not sure what the district education councils have in place at this particular time, for the type of program that Mr. Nitah is speaking of. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Supplementary, Mr. Nitah.