Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The original legal documents were provided to Cabinet, which I cannot share. Also, there was advice given to the department in this respect. I believe it was verbal advice. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. I am not sure if that is a proper question. I will allow the Minister to respond to it if he chooses. Mr. Minister.

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure what the question is here.

Your last supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have looked at the regulations, Mr. Speaker, and the advice provided is that this should continue to be considered as unearned income. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question today focuses on one of the most serious issues here in Yellowknife, our housing crunch. My question is for the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation. Vacancy rates have dropped from about 5 percent three years ago to virtually zero today. Rents have increased about 9 percent over the last two years. I appreciate the Minister informing this House, Mr. Speaker, of how recent developments on the federal infrastructure program and funding that will go out to provinces and territories, how might that additional funding be applied to assist in alleviating the crucial housing situation here in Yellowknife? Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, if I may, the affordable housing initiative will alleviate some rental housing shortages in the Northwest Territories, especially in the urban centres. Hopefully an investment of $25,000 per unit would help put more affordable housing into the major centres, as well as the non-tax-based municipalities. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to seek some clarification on that. Is there a $25,000 funding opportunity for people who want to build houses in tax-based communities in the NWT? Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the point of clarification, yes, we are prepared to assist at a capped amount of $25,000 per unit for either new construction of rehabilitated units, or a number of other units. That may help alleviate the housing shortage. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Is this program available right now or are details still being worked out for its implementation? Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to advise the Members here that this program will come into effect on April 1st of this year and will run concurrently for four years. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Final supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of the other areas related to this is the availability of land. It is one thing to be able to assist people to build houses, but if the land is not available we have a bit of a catch-22. In terms of providing infrastructure, that is water, sewer and this kind of thing, is there anything the department or its partners can do to bring some additional options to the City of Yellowknife for infrastructure? Thank you.

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