Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have deliberately gone out and tried to identify those who would be adversely affected. We will be working with them on an individual basis to see what type of programs may fit. Some may be eligible under the Expanded Down Payment Assistance Program or the Independent Housing Program. It may vary throughout our existing home ownership programs.

We are pleased to advise the Members that we are going to be discussing this with them more thoroughly on a one-on-one basis. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister responsible for Housing. Mr. Speaker, I understand that core need is a key measurement the Housing Corporation uses to describe a household that has a housing problem, and that has a total income below the community core need income threshold.

According to the 2000 Housing Needs Survey, Aklavik had 33 percent of all households in core need. Fort McPherson is at 36 percent and Tsiigehtchic has 62 percent of the households described as being in core need.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister, how do you consider actions to be taken for communities where 62 percent of all households are described as being in core need?

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If I hear the question correctly, I do not have the specific outline of how they determine those who are in core need outside of floor space, that being the basic information I have at this moment. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Can the Minister tell me what action his department is taking to address the housing problems in our small communities where there is such a large percentage of core need?

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to advise the Members of this House that we are trying to develop several new initiatives to help alleviate the number of housing shortages and also overcrowding.

In the longer term, we are looking at some new senior housing initiatives as well as singles. We understand that is one of the major impacts we need to address. We also need to look at establishing other more affordable housing type programs, as well as market development in those communities that can afford to support a market.

We are also trying to work more in the context of research and development. That again is another initiative that we will be developing in the very near future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister, will there be any new housing construction to replace some of these units that have very serious problems, where the cost to renovate is higher than building a new unit? Will there be new construction in our communities?

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, definitely. We will replace those units that are beyond economic repair. We have allocated again a certain percentage of dollars to each community in our normal business process. That should help alleviate some of the problems.

Another positive area, Mr. Speaker, is we are now entering into a universal partnership agreement that allows, under the Corporations Act, for communities to determine their needs, rather than us determining their needs for them.

We are trying to open up and offer more flexibility to deliver those programs. Hopefully, the municipalities and other communities will work in partnership with the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation to fulfill those obligations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister, given that he sees this as a definite need, how soon can a community be able to see physical construction and renovations on these units in our communities? When will we see construction?

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is an ongoing process. Each new fiscal year the communities receive monies for new construction or modernization and improvement. Those monies are available each new fiscal year. It is just a matter of how the communities want to allocate that money to new construction or rehabilitation of existing units. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Mr. Speaker, we are approaching, if we are not there already, a crisis with the two shelters for single people in Yellowknife. The homeless numbers continue to grow. I know that Education, Culture and Employment has responded in part by covering more staff for one of these shelters, but it will not be enough.

Mr. Speaker, I know the Minister, so I am sure he will be prepared to meet with the operators to hear their issues, but will he commit to examining the funding contracts in light of the numbers of people seeking emergency shelter every night?

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, there is a concern out there, and it has been there for some time, about the number of homeless people and where they are sheltered in the evenings.

Yesterday, the Premier announced that we would have a Minister to lead the issue of homelessness. Certainly I will do that and will be pleased to meet with the organizations. I will then in turn brief the lead Minister for homelessness, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Mr. Speaker, in the long term, we need to give hope to homeless people that there is light at the end of the tunnel, that they will not be stuck in shelters with no hope. That means we need more healthy choices to help people get out of shelters.

Will the Minister work with the operators to expand on healthy choices available to the people who use the overnight shelters?

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.