Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, under our social housing agreement, the Housing Corporation provides...We mentioned the level of funding received through the federal contribution program, with our matching dollars to support all housing developments, including the public housing in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the reason the Aboriginal people in the Northwest Territories, people with treaty status, can't acquire federal funding money that is allocated to Aboriginal people on the reserves and off reserves in the South is because they tell us it's rolled into the dollars committed to this government. The Minister in his answer never mentioned any obligation. His department doesn't seem to have a mandate, obligation or responsibility to people in the Northwest Territories. I would like to repeat my question, if he would answer and tell me what the NWT Housing Corporation's responsibility is to the Aboriginal people in the NWT.

Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We continue to provide an essential service to all residents of the Northwest Territories, including those who qualify under treaties. Also for the Aboriginal people, we do provide essentially a number of dollars each year. We are also looking at continuing to improve and keeping up the quality of housing to all residents. I think it's important to note that we do have appropriations each year that provides for that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, by the answer the Minister has given me, I am convinced that the Minister feels that there is no difference, no obligation, between an Aboriginal person and a non-Aboriginal person when it comes to housing. I beg to differ. I would like to ask the Minister if he would consider deferring the harmonization until he's had time to sit down and meet with an organization of chiefs or the Dene Nation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If I may refer to Hansard 95-14(6), the question was raised to the Premier and I alluded to that earlier. The Premier will be addressing that with all Cabinet Ministers once he comes back healthy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Just a clarification. Are you deferring the question to the Premier? Mr. Allen.

Mr. Speaker, no, I am not. I am referring to the question posed to the Premier dated yesterday and I believe it will be discussed between Cabinet colleagues to provide an answer to the Member's question. Thank you.

Just a clarification to the Minister. Minister, you can answer the question or take the question as notice or not answer the question. You cannot defer a question to someone who is not in the House. Either answer the question, take it as notice or don't answer the question. Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for the clarification, I will discuss it with my Cabinet colleagues and respond back. Thank you.

Clarification, are you taking the question as notice? Mr. Allen, are you taking the question as notice?

Mr. Speaker, I will discuss it further with my colleagues.

Final supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am sure the Members of the House will agree it's been difficult getting answers from the Minister regarding the harmonization initiative. In the statement and in some of the briefings, we've had all kinds of claims that were made about this program. Since the Minister is not answering my other questions, could he explain to me where these people are who he claims are so excited and happy to see that they are going to get a rent increase and they can't wait for it to come into effect? What part of the NWT are they from? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I am going to have to rule your question out of order. It's not within the framework of your original question. Your original question was based on Aboriginal obligations to housing. Could you restate the question, Mr. McLeod? Item 7, oral questions. Ms. Lee.

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Yes, Mr. Speaker, it is $1 million, I understand.

Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the budget that we discussed, there is $11.813 million that's been allocated by this government toward that program. Could the Minister confirm why it is that when we spend $11 million and the Government of Canada gives only $1 million that we have to adhere to their policy and not do our own thing? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.