Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about an issue that is looming in the community I represent. It is not something that is new but it comes around in cycles, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, economic booms have their own side effects and some of them are not positive ones. That is what we are finding in the community of Inuvik. It is in the area of housing, Mr. Speaker. As the business community has become very busy and as the market has tightened up, rents have increased and there has been difficulty for those trying to find accommodations in the community of Inuvik.

I was recently contacted, Mr. Speaker, by someone who was given notice that their rent would rise or go up by approximately $500 a month come September. Mr. Speaker, that is a huge increase for someone in a one-bedroom apartment. It is these kinds of messages that go out. It seems like the community is successful and everything else, but with the housing market tightening up, we are having more and more of a difficult time keeping professionals and keeping long-time residents in their own units. Those who were able to take care of themselves and support their own needs are now going to be in the position of having to go to Education, Culture and Employment for income support to find out if they could qualify, for example, for hardship allowance.

I do not think any intention was out there for success to bring this kind of impact to any communities but, Mr. Speaker, I have questions for the Minister of the Housing Corporation to find out if there are any things in place that would protect those who find themselves in a rental market from increases, and what is there for them to look at when these things come around? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause