Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have raised a concern in the House with Mr. Allen in this sitting about the gap that currently exists in the EDAP program for people who are hoping to access this in Yellowknife. I have only looked into the Yellowknife situation. It is entirely possible that it exists in other communities as well.

My concern is that in order to access the EDAP, Extended Down Payment Assistance Program, you have to meet several criteria. First, you either have to be in public housing or on the public housing wait list, but in order to be in public housing or on the wait list, you cannot make more than $43,000 a year or you are bumped off. This has happened to a constituent of mine who was bumped off the list because she made slightly more than $43,000.

The other criteria you have to meet is that you have to make approximately $52,000 minimum income -- that is the threshold test -- so that you can service a mortgage. So it is virtually impossible -- obviously, it is totally impossible to be both in public housing or on the public housing wait list, making less than $43,000 and also at the same time make more than $52,000 and meet the minimum threshold Minister Allen has indicated that they hope to address.

My concern is that last year in Yellowknife, there were five projects, EDAP grants, EDAP assistance given out. I have no way of understanding how those clients could have met this criteria that exists.

Although the Minister has indicated that we are looking to address this gap going forward, we have not done so yet. This year, in 2002-2003, the Housing Corporation is proposing that there will be 11 projects funded. None of these 11 projects could possibly meet the three criteria that I just outlined. I am wondering if the Minister can speak to that.