Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the Northwest Territories, the responsibility for housing is primarily located within the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. The mandate of the Housing Corporation is to assist communities to assume the role of providing housing to their residents and to sustain northern economic development.
Mr. Speaker, the corporation has a variety of programs that support public housing, home ownership and home repair programs. Some of the programs are the Extended Down Payment Assistance Program, also known as EDAP, the Independent Housing Program, EDAP Repair Program, Independent Housing Repair Program, Sale of Housing Materials Program, Northern Territorial Rental Purchase Program, the Sale of Public Housing Initiative, Seniors and/or Disabled Maintenance Program, and Elders on the Land Initiative.
Mr. Speaker, this is a long list of programs. On one hand, it sounds as if this government has at its disposal a variety of programs available to make home ownership and home repair affordable for many northern residents. On the other hand, Mr. Speaker, I wonder how much the average resident knows about the availability of these programs.
Mr. Speaker, there is a listing of programs of interest to seniors in the Seniors Information Handbook and there is some basic information on the corporation's website. I am concerned, Mr. Speaker, that perhaps the public is not very well aware that there are programs available, nor are they sure of who they should talk to about qualifying for assistance.
Other than news releases on programs when they are initially announced, we hear very little by way of advertising on programs that are available to assist members of the public with their housing problems. Not only do we need to advertise these programs, Mr. Speaker, but we need to let people know how to find out if they qualify. If these programs are expected to help people obtain and maintain affordable housing, Mr. Speaker, then let's go out there and let people know they exist and we are willing to help them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
-- Applause