Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that the NWT Housing Corporation has developed a policy that directs them to provide counselling services to the tenants. This counselling includes issues dealing with all aspects of being a tenant. I understand this counselling service is provided on a very limited basis, if at all.

Mr. Speaker, to be fair to the housing staff in the communities I recognize the work load they are under and influence that family members can have on those administering public housing in the communities, but more importantly I recognize the negative impact and emotional trauma eviction has on those tenants and their families when they are faced with eviction or are evicted.

Mr. Speaker, if problems exist I would ask that the NWT Housing Corporation, through an independent review, visit communities like Fort Providence and identify housing problems that exist in the community to determine and identify solutions that are beneficial to the tenants and to this government. Mr. Speaker, what we need is more housing in the communities and not more evictions. This is supported by the 2000 housing survey conducted by the NWT Housing Corporation that confirms that Fort Providence has 101 or 40 percent of households in core need.

Mr. Speaker, now that we are responsible for social housing should we not be using legislation and policies developed from that legislation to better serve the people who comprise our small aboriginal communities and not compound the problems faced by people in those communities? Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister later on. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause