Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation listed the achievements made by this department over the past year. It is true that there have been many worthwhile housing projects that have been worked on and that are still in the works.

In terms of my region, housing concerns continue to be the number one issue. With the development of the mines, employment opportunities are opening up. With these jobs, people are earning good money. However, it is not unusual for people to have outstanding arrears.

If a person is in government housing and is working, 25 percent of their gross paycheque goes to their rent. Mr. Speaker, I'm sure all Members are aware that there is a big difference between gross wages and take-home pay. With 25 percent of the gross wage gone and with the arrears on top of this, the situation is bleak. A class of people known as the working poor is being created. People can't catch up with their debts. As a government, we need to figure out how to help people who are working and who are able to maintain a home, but do not qualify for housing programs because of their arrears.

One suggestion I would like to put forward is that if a person who is working has earned enough money to maintain a home, we should include their present arrears in their mortgage. By doing this, we don't ignore the debt, but it is a chance for people to unload the burden of bad credit into payments they can manage.

Mr. Speaker, it was only last week that the Premier stated that the economy of the Northwest Territories is the envy of the rest of Canada. Let's make sure that the people in the North benefit from this prosperity. Mr. Speaker, this government can help by making sure that its housing policies support the reality of our new North. Thank you very much.

---Applause