Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the simple fact is, if it was purely on the business-to-business scale and looked at workforce housing, any company would just supply your traditional workforce housing, which is of little or no value to us here in the Northwest Territories when we look at the concept of the program we are trying to work with. To have some commitment to be able to take this concept and have it done so that, at the tail end, a conversion is as affordable as possible and we put affordable housing on the ground, we have to step in and see the opportunity that is available there. Yes, there are risks. We are going to have to do our homework. The fact is, this housing will not become available until at least 2010 or 2011 when the pipeline construction is completed. Then we would be able to start moving these things off. We have to come up with a solid concept and begin identifying these areas. As a government, to have companies put some money down of their own to look at this program isn't...wouldn't it be something else to be able to commit to it in a sense of just not going to them and say, look, this is the concept we want, the housing afterwards. Invest in it and come up with a model and we will take it off your hands if you feel it is appropriate. There has to be some buy-in from the GNWT. There has been no cash laid out to this date. At some point, though, in the near future, as discussions are going on around the pipeline, we are going to have to make a commitment. Are we in or are we out? Thank you.
Floyd Roland on Question 443-15(4): Risks Associated With Housing Opportunities From The Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Project
In the Legislative Assembly on February 22nd, 2006. See this statement in context.
Further Return To Question 443-15(4): Risks Associated With Housing Opportunities From The Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Project
Question 443-15(4): Risks Associated With Housing Opportunities From The Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Project
Item 6: Oral Questions
February 21st, 2006
Page 1227
See context to find out what was said next.