Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Like the rest of Canada, the Northwest Territories is experiencing a shortage of affordable housing in many, if not all, of our communities. The Northwest Territories Housing Needs Survey for 2000, Mr. Speaker, highlights a greater need for renovations and repairs in the smaller communities and the need for solutions to affordability and overcrowding, particularly in our larger centres in Inuvik and Yellowknife.
In his budget address last week, the Minister of Finance offered some welcome news that will assist the private sector in developing rental accommodation by increasing the availability of reasonably priced and financed land for non-tax-based communities. I support this direction, Mr. Speaker, but I think it can go further, especially at this time of accelerated development due to mining and oil and gas.
Mr. Speaker, in our larger centres, the Northwest Territories has a capable private sector involved in constructing and owning housing. I do not believe the government has a role in doing anything of a competitive nature. This would interfere unduly in the market.
Having said that, I believe there is room for governments, both territorial and municipal, to assist in providing up-front assistance in developing the infrastructure to help make the lots and the land more affordable. Specifically, Mr. Speaker, we are looking at building the roads and the water and sewer networks that we need for modern communities.
If these up-front development costs were lowered, Mr. Speaker, this reduces the amount of financing that a developer needs to arrange and that means lower rents and cost of land for tenants and homeowners. I believe there is room for this government to be innovative and build on programs that will help municipal governments make land more affordable by reducing those high, upfront infrastructure costs.
I will be asking the Ministers responsible more about this during question period. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
-- Applause