Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, housing in Yellowknife and the Northwest Territories is a constant issue that merits our attention. I would like to again bring attention to it.

Here in Yellowknife, Mr. Speaker, we are fortunate to have a buoyant economy fuelled largely at this time by the diamond industry. Our summer students are generally well employed, but local help wanted ads reflect increasing shortages in the trades and the service industry. Employment initiatives by the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment and public housing approaches by the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation are welcome, but more affordable housing is urgently needed. Much more needs to be done.

People cannot camp at Fred Henne Park in December, Mr. Speaker. The housing situation in Yellowknife is critical, with less than two percent vacancy rate for rental accommodation. Detached units are virtually unavailable. The shortage of tradesmen is increasingly problematic.

Diavik and De Beers Snap Lake projects have still to come on stream. While the private sector is looking at a level new housing construction, some 60 new units are on stream in Yellowknife. High land and servicing costs, fuel, high taxes and a lack of tradesmen impact diversely on our buoyant economy. I guess we could ask a question, Mr. Speaker, "If we build it, will they come?"

The Housing Corporation should re-examine its administration of public housing to see if there are opportunities for improvement and a more integrated approach. How and for whom can more public housing be made available?

Emergency housing inventories in Yellowknife are over-taxed. I would appeal to the corporation to continue to support and provide immediate funding for the three family units at the YWCA and commit to sit on the Yellowknife Housing Coalition.

Mr. Speaker, our message is that our governments -- municipal, territorial, federal -- and the private sector must work together to remedy not only the increasingly critical short-term housing situation, but also to plan and manage and benefit from the short-and long-term prospects for development in Yellowknife and the NWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause