Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the requirements would be somewhat dated. They used to have arrangements with Nats' Ejee K'eh. Then there was a drug and alcohol program through the college. I take the Member's concern that this is clearly an area that attention needs to be paid to and I am prepared to do that.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Indeed, the ongoing research and new information in addictions counselling needs to be accessed and implemented in the North. I understand that a presentation was made to the department on this issue and that the department has yet to respond. Will the Minister commit to reviewing this situation and the need for legislation establishing the profession of drug and alcohol counsellors? When I speak of presentation, I refer to the presentation under the Addiction Intervention Association, Canadian Addiction Counsellor Certification Board, this material that was presented to the department. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Yes, I will, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am aware that the department is currently preparing a multidiscipline Health and Social Services professions legislation. Will the Minister ensure that drug and alcohol counsellors are made a part of this new legislation and support that with the necessary resources? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the area identified by my colleague is one that will be considered. We also want to look at social workers as well. I look forward to the advice and direction and working with the committee as we move forward with that legislation.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Final supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister indicated that he is not aware of what the current requirement is to act and be on the payroll as a drug and alcohol counsellor in the Northwest Territories at this time. Would he be aware of credentials of people who are on the government payroll?

He is not telling me what the necessary standard is, but what is the standard of people who are already involved in this profession? For example, Nats' Ejee K'eh, which is our residential treatment facility? Is the department aware of the qualifications people are receiving, either through NGOs or through health boards? What kinds of qualifications do they have at the present time? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I can indicate to the Member that I am aware of the longer-serving drug and alcohol counsellors in the communities having taken advantage of the training through NICI.

What the current training qualifications, education, experience that the people at Nats' Ejee K'eh have, I cannot say. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question today is for the Minister in charge of the Housing Corporation, Minister Allen, with regard to the Extended Down Payment Assistance Program. I understand that in order to qualify for this program in Yellowknife, you have to meet the minimum threshold of somewhere in the neighbourhood of $52,000 per year. Is that correct?

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I understand that those numbers are correct.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Bell.

I also understand that in order to qualify for this program, you have to meet several other criteria. You have to be either in public housing or on the public housing wait list. Is that correct?

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

Mr. Speaker, I believe that is one of the criteria. If you are in public housing and can afford home ownership, then it is our intention to put those people who are at the high end of the rent scale into home ownership.

If those who are on the waiting list are those who would qualify under existing programs, we would try to accommodate them as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess here is the dilemma. In order to be in public housing or on the wait list, you cannot make more than $43,000 per year. In order to access the EDAP program, you have to make $52,000 per year. What do we do about the people who fall in between?

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