Yes I do, Mr. Chairman. I am pleased to present this Legislature with the 2001-2002 budget for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.
Mr. Chairman, I am confident the budget we are presenting today will assist in achieving the objectives of the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation in support of the goals outlined in Towards a Better Tomorrow.
We have requested a total contribution of approximately $45.5 million. This represents an increase of 5 percent from the previous year. The corporation will spend over $90 million on housing in the Northwest Territories this year when we include Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and other contributions.
With the funding included in this budget, projects will continue under our present initiatives. In its contracting procedures, the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation works to ensure that Northern labour, goods, services and contractors are used in order to create jobs and economic activity in our communities.
Mr. Chairman, the 2000 Housing Needs Survey results show there is still a dire need for adequate, suitable and affordable housing in the Northwest Territories. The majority of those in need are aboriginal families. The total withdrawal of federal funding for new social housing has put a severe strain on the corporation's ability to meet the housing needs of our residents.
One of the most important challenges for the Northwest Territories, as well as for all provinces and territories, will be to ensure that the current level of federal funding to operate and maintain public housing units stays in the housing system. The long-term sustainability of our social housing stock depends on it. I intend to discuss this important issue with the federal Minister at our next meeting in August, 2001.
Mr. Chairman, the corporation is currently working cooperatively with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment on integrating the social housing and income support programs. Key features of this initiative include harmonizing the income exemption policies of both the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation and Department of Education, Culture and Employment, and implementing measures to simplify and combine the delivery of our programs in communities.
Housing Corporation officials have just completed meetings with representatives from the community of Fort Resolution. We anticipate Fort Resolution will be the first community to pilot this joint Department of Education, Culture and Employment and Northwest Territories Housing Corporation initiative.
Senior Housing Corporation staff have just returned from meetings with their territorial and provincial counterparts from across the country. We are anticipating that the federal housing Minister, the Honourable Alfonso Gagliano, will be presenting the Remote Housing Initiative to the federal Cabinet in mid March and publicly announcing it by the end of March. Key aspects of this new initiative, such as cost-sharing and the amount of client assistance, remain uncertain at this time. I will continue to lobby my federal counterpart to ensure that this initiative meets northern needs and requirements.
Mr. Chairman, I have asked senior officials to continue their research into all historical housing agreements between the Government of the Northwest Territories and the federal government regarding the funding associated with delivering programs on reserves, now that a second reserve is expected to be established in the Northwest Territories. Once this research is completed I will share it with Members of this Legislative Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.