Thank you, Madam Chair. I know the question of the treaties has always been out there. I think one of the problems we have is that there was no written text with regard to that statement. It's always been a verbal commitment that was stated. Until someone is able to prove that was one of the obligations in the treaty...You look at the treaties and the obligations that were made by Canada in the treaties, there was nothing in writing that refers to housing. Again, it comes down to interpretation.

For me growing up in Fort McPherson, before the Housing Corporation came around, everybody was independent. Everybody owned their own homes, they went out and got their own logs, they were able to maintain their own families. They were proud people. I think because of the whole idea of making life easier and taking away that responsibility, it has put a lot of dependency on people in social housing.

I think one of the things that we can look forward to is now that the aboriginal organizations such as AFN and the Government of Canada are looking at this as one of the core problems for First Nations communities, it is now getting some national attention. I think it's important that we, as the Government of the Northwest Territories, work with First Nations communities but, more importantly, that we establish a policy across Canada to deal with on- and off-reserve people. Right now housing is a responsibility on reserves through Indian Affairs. Housing responsibility off reserves is CMHC.

We need to improve the quality of life in communities by delivering housing programs that meet the needs of First Nations people in First Nations communities. I think it's also important that we, as a government, realize that programs and services that have devolved over the last 30 years from when we started off with HAP houses, from SHAG to Webber houses, where people went out and got their own logs for the HAP units or people bought into the different SHAG programs. these programs had to evolve over time. You hear a lot of frustration from people in communities where now they're being told they have to pay a mortgage or go out of their way to get a house, but they know someone 10 or 15 years ago who got a HAP unit for free. So because times have changed, there has been inconsistency in how programs and services have been delivered.

I believe that in these upcoming meetings with the federal Minister and our provincial counterparts, they are looking at establishing a First Nations conference with AFN and different agencies to look at First Nations housing across Canada. That includes on and off reserve. I think more importantly the statement that was made with regard to the Throne speech clearly identified aboriginal housing as one of the issues that will be dealt with.

With that, hopefully that answers the Member's question because I think it's something that we have to work out, along with Billy Erasmus who is our representative on AFN. They are looking at this, but they are also looking at a possible pilot project in the Northwest Territories for aboriginal housing for the Northwest Territories. With that, thank you, Madam Chair.