Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Yes, Mr. Speaker, in Yellowknife, for example, there's work being done on a dementia facility that we have been assisting with. They have been assisted with some money for studies, as well. There has been the issue of access to the land for a facility that's been dealt with in Cabinet. So we are assisting in that way. Thank you.

Final supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker, we have now determined that Mr. Miltenberger's department does assist communities with projects and studies and surveys and, I understand, he said that resources are limited, but would the Minister, Mr. Speaker, entertain a proposal from a Hay River community living association for funding to conduct a survey so we can identify the needs and create an action plan for the community of Hay River? Thank you.

Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, we'll consider any proposal that any community puts forward. In this case, yes, we will consider a proposal if it's put forward by the community of Hay River.

Item 6, oral questions. Member for Hay River North, Mr. Delorey.

Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as the Member is aware, the BIP has been

waived on this whole initiative to supply market housing to the communities. Therefore, there is no requirement for northern content. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to get from the Minister, if he could verify for me, whether the whole of that contract is separated from the BIP or if there are some portions of it, as far as setting up the units or building pads that is all-inclusive, or is some of that separated where the BIP would apply? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our plan is to tender for all the mobile homes or facilities that we require for market housing FOB. The ones for the highway system will be FOB Hay River and...I'm sorry, the ones that require barge transportation will be FOB Hay River and the ones on the road system will be FOB in the communities. The second part of this initiative is to put them up, and the LHOs in the communities will be given the responsibilities of the gravel pads and the hook-up for sewer and water and fuel. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in considering this contract and other contracts, I know the Minister has identified that there is a growing need in communities for units and these prefab units may be the answer for us. I was wondering if the Minister and his department considered a meeting with the industry in the North to see about doing a cost-analysis of what it would cost in the North to build these prefab units as compared to the South. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In response to that question, no, we haven't met with industry as of yet. This is an initiative that we inherited from the 14th Assembly. We have some real serious timelines to work with. We need to have the contract out and the buildings in Hay River by a certain deadline. Therefore, we haven't had the opportunity talk to large groups. We have contacted the affected communities. We have contacted the Construction Association. We have some people coming to meet with me to talk about the initiatives such as the Member is referring to, about the possibility of looking at how we can manufacture these units in the North. That's certainly something we would embrace. We are encouraging it. We would like to see something of that nature set up for the long term. So we intend to, but as of yet we have not talked to anybody regarding construction of these units. Thank you.

Final supplementary. Mr. Delorey.

Thank you Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the Minister for those answers and I am encouraged by the answer he gives. I would like to get a commitment from the Minister that he work with the industry and do a cost analysis of what we can do in the North to keep as much business as we possibly can, whether it is work with RWED and the Housing Corporation, but with the focus of keeping as much northern content as we can and in line with keeping them to an affordable cost where we can meet the community needs. Will the Minister agree to do that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, our intent is to try to generate that interest. Our direction requires us to have these units cost effective, to plan market rent for the communities and competitive resale value, and we are also required to have full cost recovery and no subsidy to these units. We would be very interested and would commit to the request of the Member. Thank you.

Item 6, oral questions. The Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I will direct my inquiries to the Minister of Transportation. I am just wondering about Highway No. 1 that runs through the Nahendeh riding. What specific priorities do they have to maintain and spend on maintenance on our highways for this coming fiscal year?