Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my Member's statement today is about the potential advantage of implementing a tax credit for interest paid on mortgages.

Mr. Speaker, even with the relatively low interest rates of today, a Northwest Territories resident purchasing a $250,000 home still pays anywhere between $10,000 to $14,000 a year in interest for the first 10 years of their mortgage. Mr. Speaker, the cost of living, especially housing costs, is so high in the North that individuals employed in the diamond mining sector often prefer to purchase a home for their family in the South and commute. We spend a fortune attracting professionals north, only to have them return south after a couple of years.

This government needs to be looking at creative ways to make it more attractive for people to put down roots, Mr. Speaker. If the Northwest Territories were to implement the type of tax credit that I propose, we would have a leg up over other jurisdictions and it would go a long way toward making homeownership affordable for low to middle-income earners.

This idea is not a new one, Mr. Speaker. The United States offers a tax deduction for interest paid on mortgages. Here in Canada, the short-lived Clark government proposed a tax credit for interest paid on mortgages in 1979. Unfortunately, their mandate ended before it could be implemented.

The tax credit idea is quite simple, Mr. Speaker. The system that was proposed in 1979 allowed a 25 percent tax credit for the first $5,000 paid in mortgage interest, with a maximum benefit of $1,250. In today's dollars, an equivalent maximum benefit would be 25 percent of $13,200, or a tax credit of $3,300. A tax credit has a number of advantages over the U.S. tax deduction. It directs more of the benefits towards lower and middle-income earners and homeowners. A cap also significantly reduces the potential cost of implementing the system.

Mr. Speaker, it's about time that we show some leadership and look at innovative and creative ways of making housing more affordable. Last year we saw a host of new tax measures come into effect. We had to stomach it because of our pitiful fiscal situation. The fiscal situation today is much improved. This year I'd like to see this government look into implementing tax breaks to help make homeownership in the Northwest Territories affordable. Mr. Speaker, I'll have questions for the Minister of Finance at the appropriate time. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. In the Northwest Territories today, we have social housing programs that are becoming social housing problems of enormous complexity. Mr. Speaker, we not only have issues that my colleagues have very eloquently outlined today facing us in their communities, but we have a very long-range problem in that the multi-year contract we have with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, which today feeds our coffers to the tune of some $33 million, is slowly, gradually disappearing, Mr. Speaker. According to the terms of the takeover we signed with CMHC, I believe it was eight years ago, it's going to sunset. There will be nothing left of that after the year 2038, Mr. Speaker. This really spells disaster for many residents, especially those in smaller communities where there is such a heavy reliance on social housing.

Mr. Speaker, the 2004 housing needs survey by the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation tells us that of the 14,000 households in the NWT, about 2,100 of them are in need of repair; 1,400 of them are overcrowded; about another 1,500 say that affordability is their most significant problem. Mr. Speaker, given that the increases in population and changes in demographics are rapidly changing the face of the Northwest Territories and that we are losing our long-range multi-million dollar source of funding, how are we going to maintain public housing levels? Tens of millions of dollars are falling off our income sheet for the coming years, Mr. Speaker. We have yet to see a viable plan for ensuring that we will be able to continue to be able to afford a decent housing program for our people. Eight years ago we took on this responsibility, and I'm afraid we're not doing a very good job of carrying it through. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to talk about the lack of a coordinated policy for housing for seniors and people with disabilities. Mr. Speaker, I don't think it's the responsibility of this government; I think it's the honest duty of this government to make sure that we address the housing needs for our seniors and disabled constituents. Mr. Speaker, I still speak firmly that we do not have a coordinated access program for barrier-free access housing, Mr. Speaker. It should be a principle of this government to make sure our seniors and our disabled constituents are treated fairly and properly in homes; where we do not treat them as shut-ins, but take care of them with the dignity they so rightly deserve, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, we may not be breaking any official laws. I can guarantee you that some bureaucrat out there will take a tape measure and say, yes, we're treating this perfectly to the letter of the law. But I'm not talking about building things to the minimum, Mr. Speaker. I'm talking about giving people their lives; I'm talking about giving them a life worth living, Mr. Speaker. So I'm going to say that this government needs a firm policy on how to help address the housing needs of those seniors and disabled people, Mr. Speaker.

This government needs to embrace independent living. We have people living longer and wanting to live productive lives. Again, let's not treat them as shut-ins. Let's give them a chance to live a full and productive life, Mr. Speaker, with dignity.

Mr. Speaker, a couple of months ago I brought a couple of units to the attention of the housing Minister. I have to, first and foremost, say that I do appreciate that he did send some people in there to see the Beirut-type conditions that those folks are living under.

---Laughter

Mr. Speaker, I hope he sent them in there wearing hard hats and safety vests because these were horrible conditions we had people looking into. I have to give compliments to the Minister for addressing that problem, first and foremost. But we can't stop there. Our government needs a policy to make sure these folks are living.

Mr. Speaker, that example, in closing, I'm going to say this was the first step. Finally, it's nice to see the Housing Corporation move their stone feet and get into this race and deal with this problem. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to take this opportunity to tell you how displeased I am at the way the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation and this government have handled the market housing initiative introduced last year. Mr. Speaker, as you might recall, we had a very extensive debate on various aspects of this policy all during the spring and summer sessions in 2004. At that time, the government begged us to waive their own BIP policy and allow them to bring 22 trailers from Sherwood Park in a hurry, because this was a cheap and efficient way to bring needed housing for teachers and nurses into our communities. Time was of the essence; there were no other options, Mr. Speaker. They assured us that they would have an evaluation done and that they would look into creating a housing manufacturing industry in the North and they would come back with a comprehensive plan and they would not ask to bypass the BIP again. So where do we stand a year later, Mr. Speaker?

We have 14 out of 22 mobile homes sitting empty, dotted all over the North. Mr. Speaker, the department has no clear idea what went wrong. They can't figure out why the people who said they wanted them would not take them. They're asking, Mr. Speaker, for us to give them the benefit of the doubt to bring 22 more units, no questions asked, and waive the BIP again.

Mr. Speaker, I need to know where the government is heading with their money in the Housing Corporation. The Minister indicated, no problem, we can bring 22 more and if they're not taken up, we can give them to social housing, while Mr. McLeod indicated how labour-intensive and more costly trailers will be to maintain.

Mr. Speaker, I need to ask the government, is this where we're heading with the social housing policy? Are we going to become the middleman for trailer dealers from the South, Mr. Speaker?

---Laughter

Is this where the government is heading?

---Applause

I say this is not acceptable, Mr. Speaker. Are they going to continue to ignore the BIP that is applicable to everybody else? Mr. Speaker, all the answers I have gotten to this date are not acceptable. I don't believe it's fair to say to

the people in social housing that they can get leftover mobile homes. I don't think it's fair...

---Laughter

...for the government to say we can just waive BIP because it doesn't work for us. I expect the Minister to answer to all of the above. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, before we launch into the pressing housing issues of the day, I'd just like to take a moment to pay tribute to a relationship of love and commitment that has stood the test of time. On February 24, 1945, Albert Bonnet met Febula Heron in Edmonton and married her and, shortly thereafter, he took her to Fort Smith where they reside to this day. They have brought into this world seven children and they are now, as well, proud grandparents 15 times and great-grandparents eight times over. Today, Mr. Speaker, they're celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary.

---Applause

Truly a relationship that has stood the test of time and I'd like to thank you for honouring that accomplishment. I apologize for not being at their celebration on Saturday, but I wish them all the best in the world and, of course, may the next 60 years be as good as the first. Thank you.

---Laughter

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. I'm sure that I can speak on behalf of all Members in congratulating them as well, and wishing them the best in the future. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, reports of standing and special committees. Item 5, returns to oral questions. Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's my honour to recognize three people in the gallery, famous artists: Mr. Antoine Mountain.

---Applause

Also Margaret Donovan, who runs a gallery here in Yellowknife, from Tsiigehtchic.

---Applause

Also Victor Stewart, who's a recreation director in Fort McPherson. Welcome to the House.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize Ms. Barb Barnet, who's joining us today. She's the co-chair of the review committee at the Workers' Compensation Board and also a constituent of mine. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you. It's good to see in our Chambers again, Mr. Speaker, Lydia Bardak who was gone for a while and she's back and she's a renowned social activist. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation. I spoke today about the need for single-housing units in the Nahendeh region. If the Minister could explain to me how he intends to address the needs in the smaller communities in my riding -- like Jean Marie, Nahanni Butte, Trout Lake -- in terms of their single housing needs. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have completed two phases of a needs survey. Based on those needs surveys which identify where the majority of the core need is, we are now focusing our dollars and resources to where that highest need is. That's how we basically make our decisions on how we allocate; based on the needs surveys that have been completed.