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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I apologize if I am laughing, but I do not think it requires a commitment. I think it requires common sense that where there is no other outlet in the community, we can carry those additional supplies. Those who are getting merchant repair programs or other repair programs, that automatically goes into the community during the barge season, so if there are additional requirements needed for those that do not qualify that specific year, yes, we can talk to them and make sure that we carry the additional materials and supplies that would help them through another season. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is also for the Minister of Housing. Yesterday, the Minister told us in the House that he would be taking the harmonization strategy proposal to delay the implementation of the strategy to Cabinet. Mr. Speaker, I am not satisfied that this strategy has been debated in this Assembly. I would like to ask the Minister if he would commit to a full debate on the question of whether or not the strategy should be implemented at all, not just delayed? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is probably a question that could be answered by this Assembly. We have an obligation to present it not only to standing committee but also to the Assembly. If I may respond in this way, perhaps the Member would consider introducing it into committee of the whole for debate. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Allen. Supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would consider introducing it into committee of the whole. However, I need the Minister to table the strategy in this House to stimulate discussion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have been advised that we have taken it back for review, so once that review has been completed, we will be prepared to table it in this House. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister has indicated that he has taken the joint position paper back to Cabinet for approval. It is my understanding that he is looking for a deferral. The details of the strategy are already done. It is my understanding they were done because they were prepared to introduce it and implement it April 1st. Why can he not table that information?

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, with all due respect to the Member, we are not only looking at the time lines but also, we need to look at several other options in the context of how we are going to deal with those clients who are adversely affected. We need to take additional time to put together an amended strategy here for those persons adversely affected. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Mr. Speaker, the notices have already gone out into the communities. That would lead us to believe the policy has already been developed. By the Minister's response, I would have to ask, is he also reviewing the policy along with the possibility of deferring it until October 1st? Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It also requires some review to see how we can adapt the various components of that policy, to see which really applies into which community and take a closer look at those who would be adversely affected, those who we have to speak to one-on-one to see where we can fit them into other programs. That is the intent of my reason for trying to defer this implementation. Also, we need to look at the overall communication strategy. How are we getting the information out to the communities and the people who are affected? We have heard this today, so I want to assure the Member that I am prepared to propose a deferral so that we can look at all of the elements, which is going to really affect the citizens of our Territory. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to spread the information around a little bit and direct this question to the Minister for Municipal and Community Affairs, our colleague, Mr. Steen. I would like to ask what options does the department or the government have to assist tax-based communities in land and infrastructure development? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, MACA has two programs for tax-based communities for land development. One is a water and sewage program. We can assist the communities through that process, whereby at the present time, we are cost-sharing this with the federal government and the tax-based municipalities, where the combined government contribution, both federal and territorial, would be 50 percent of the total project and the rest is from the tax-based municipality.

The second program is relative to what I mentioned previous to the Member, that we offer debentures. Other than that, we have nothing developed at this time. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and to the Minister for that response. Those seem to be relatively conventional programs and will take some time to plan and put into place. The pressure on at least two of our communities because of the accelerated activity I think demands more information. I wanted to ask the Minister just what kind of innovations can they look at to assist communities that have a demand now for more land? Thank you.