Mahsi, Mr. Menicoche. To the motion. Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier, I mentioned that the time has come for a certain motion put forward by one of the Members and here's another motion whose time has come.

It took 30 years for us to have a review of the NWT Housing Corporation. I often speak that the Housing Corporation Act of 1978 is very old. It comes from a distant colonial past that we are doing this for you, your own good. In fact, some of our policies, Mr. Speaker, still do that, like the EDAP and mortgage assistance policies. Well, we'll lend you the money, but we will still build it for you and you will have to pay us. That's kind of ridiculous. That's not what people in my constituency or throughout the North want anymore, Mr. Speaker. If it's their money, then they should feel free to do what they want and build the quality construction that they want and need. This is one of the ways that we have to release those ties there, Mr. Speaker. The Housing Corporation Minister is just going to have to let go of our people and let them be free with regard to the programming.

In fact, in all of our policies and guidelines, of the key words missing is quality construction. We are making it adequate. We are making it accessible and affordable, but the biggest single concern that is brought to my attention time and time again is quality; quality in construction and, indeed, quality in providing the services and programming that the people have. Often, they get frustrated with the multi-layered bureaucracies that even the one department has.

Mr. Speaker, some of the functions that were there before are no longer there anymore. Once, in the act, it called for a creation of a board of directors, but those are gone now. So that is one function of accountability that is gone. It is not there anymore. The Minister has the ultimate authority in his entire department. Single-handedly, he is making decisions. That is something that is gone, as well. That is from the old colonial days when we, indeed, had a Commissioner that, through his goodness and his will, things happened. Now, that is gone again. I continue to reiterate that.

Overall, the corporation does need an overhaul. Many of its original functions are no longer with it, like providing social housing. We just, in fact, transferred that responsibility over to ECE, but yet we are still functioning as a social housing unit, so that, too, has to be reviewed there, Mr. Speaker. I think the biggest thing is that, throughout the North, people are saying let's overhaul the Housing Corporation. I know that the corporation is extending every effort to do that, as well. Here, having it done by an external source, the Auditor General's office, is just another way of getting outside eyes looking in and seeing how things can be done a lot better. That is all people want, is to make sure they have an accountable organization taking care of them. They have a responsible organization and a relevant organization, Mr. Speaker. With that, I will conclude my statement in just saying that I look forward to this Auditor General's report and a revamping of the Housing Corporation. Mahsi cho.

---Applause

Mahsi, Mr. Menicoche. To the motion.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

---Applause

First reading of bills. Second reading of bills. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Committee Report 8-15(4), with Mr. Pokiak in the chair.

What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Committee wishes to consider Committee Report 8-15(4).

Does committee agree?

Thank you. We will take a little short break for about 15 minutes.

---SHORT RECESS

Good afternoon. We will reconvene Committee of the Whole. Right now, we are reviewing Committee Report 8-15(4). I would like to ask the deputy chair of AOC to speak to the report.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am going to briefly outline the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight comments. We tabled Committee Report 8-15(4) on February 24th and it has to do with the Auditor General's overview of March 21, 2002 to 2003.

In brief, Mr. Chairman, the Auditor General's report on other matters consisted of several areas, but specifically it touched on areas of the NWT Housing Corporation with shipment of housing to Alaska. Committee members were concerned about that. It also consisted of diamond loan guarantees, consolidated budgets, Mr. Chairman. I will now conclude by saying that committee members may have individual comments. I will move two motions once general comments have been received. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. We will go into general comments on the report. General comments. Mr. Hawkins.

I move that this committee recommends that the Executive Council table a comprehensive response to this report within 120 days in accordance with Rule 93(5) of the rules of the Legislative Assembly.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The motion is being handed out right now. To the motion.

Question is being called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

---Applause

Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that this committee recommends that the GNWT compare consolidated budgets beginning with the 2008-09 budget cycle. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question is being called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

---Applause

Thank you. Does committee agree that consideration of Committee Report 8-15(4) is concluded?