Mr. Speaker, I have a return to written question asked by Mr. Menicoche on May 27, 2004, regarding the guidelines for contractors to deal with mould.

Specifically, the Member asked if the government has guidelines or schedules in place for contractors to follow to prevent the mould problem from occurring. Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation advocates and encourages good building practices during construction. The Housing Corporation construction

specifications contain requirements for contractors to protect building materials and unfinished construction projects from bad weather. The corporation also endeavours to select building sites that are well drained or may be easily dewatered through mechanical means. New houses are being built with high levels of insulation and adequate ventilation systems.

Additionally, the corporation is looking into the extent of mould problems in specific cases and has retained the services of an independent environmental assessment consultant. The corporation is currently preparing technical bulletins and will conduct workshops for local housing organizations and tenants on the identification, cause and mitigation of mould. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.