Why is this government 1,400 homes short? If we calculate four people per home, we are talking about 5,000 people who need homes and who are on waiting lists.
Mr. Speaker, the housing conditions, and the costs in the territory, are at a crisis situation. This crisis situation must be dealt with. This government must start acting tough, and not just talking tough on badly needed housing.
Housing costs in the small, remote communities are out of control, putting more and more pressures on housing assistance, and governments must respond.
During the summer, I had the honour to visit some of my constituents within the Nahendeh, and the conditions that some families are living in can even break the coldest hearts. We are not just talking about the quantity of homes either, but also healthy conditions of existing homes; for example, indoor household mould effects. These rundown conditions affect the development of children and produce fatigue in adults. If we had families in Yellowknife living in dilapidated homes, there would be such a community uproar. "How can this happen in our capital city?" would be the cry. Yet, in the regions, in my region, many families do live in these conditions all year round, Mr. Speaker. It is appalling to have substandard housing conditions in our communities in this year of 2005.
Another issue is the waiting list and overly crowded housing conditions. Studies have shown overcrowded housing conditions affect all sorts of progressive development, from education to healthy living. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.