Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Housing Corporation is also very concerned, as am I, with the condition of this facility. There were, I think, seven areas of deficiencies that we committed to working on in the meantime in the short term. I don't have an up-to-date report on exactly what has been accomplished to today, but we are concerned about it. We will deal with those deficiencies in the existing building and, at the same time, take a look at whether or not we want to put major money into this facility or whether we would be better off to build something new. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I certainly would like to see those results of the study that was undertaken. I am very concerned about the facility itself. It is 21 years old, built in 1986. It is falling apart, Mr. Speaker, when you really have a tour of the facility.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to focus on one of the long-term plans of the NWT Housing Corporation. If the Jimmy Erasmus Seniors' Home costs more to repair than to replace, will this government, or NWT Housing Corporation, commit to a new seniors' home in Behchoko to replace it? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we will commit to providing units for the seniors in Behchoko. Now, we need to look at the review that is being done. This is not something that we are going to ponder or cogitate on forever. We have to take some action here. We realize that we have done some short-term things on the existing facility, but if this one just cannot be repaired at a reasonable cost, then we have to look at a new building, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, I definitely would like to see a new building that serves five communities. That is including Edzo, Behchoko, Gameti, Whati, and Wekweeti. Our population is growing. We are losing a lot of elders in the region. I talked about one of the highly respected elders that passed on two days ago. It is happening today. We have to take those into consideration that we are losing elders in not just my region, but other regions. So, Mr. Speaker, when can we see this in the works, an action plan to have this addressed to replace the building in Behchoko, the seniors' home? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can't tell exactly when it will be, but I can assure the Member that we are aiming at no later than June to have a report done that will tell us whether we continue with repairs to the existing facility or we go to a new building.

Mr. Speaker, I have a real concern; I think the Housing Corporation does, as well, of why buildings can't last more than 20 years. This building is not that old. In the scheme of things, we should have buildings that last 40, 50 or 60 years before they start to rot and fall apart and so on. So there is something wrong with the way we have been building these buildings. That is a serious concern. I don't want to build another building that is just going to last 20 years. This has to be thought through carefully and is something that we get our money's worth and the elders have a good, safe place to live. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Final supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the Minister recognizing that there is a need for a new building in the community, the seniors' home facility that can serve the five communities. I would like to ask the Minister, based on the study that has been done, how soon can the Minister and his department meet with the Tlicho Community Services Agency to devolve a plan to move forward? We have been waiting for a long time now. I think now is the time to act on it. Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, I will speak to the Housing Corporation about that. I am, as the Member knows, travelling with him in some of the Tlicho communities in early April. I expect to have more information by the time we get together at that time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Oral questions. The honourable Member for the Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.