Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know that through the RC distribution payment being considered exempt, they did take the government to court and the court did decide it should be exempt as income, as unearned income or exempt from clawback on your monthly income.

Mr. Speaker, if we are going to see residential school settlements being included as exempt in the new income support reform, then why can't we include IBA dollars? A lot of claimant groups only get this money based on...It's not guaranteed every year. They could have used the money for something else and they could have distributed it differently and in different circumstances. So why can't we include that as an exemption in income because it's not...

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. I will allow the Minister to answer that. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are a lot of things that may happen only once. For instance, gifts that people are given that are considered as income. The exclusions we offer now through the program are those that are provided for as compensation for some purpose like the wrongdoing that happened at residential schools. IBAs are not considered the same way. It's a contractual arrangement. It's not seen by our government as compensation. So on that difference of opinion, that's where we stand between the Member and the government.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Okay, well let me ask the Minister this, if he can explain to me what the difference is between the Inuvialuit regional claim distribution payments and IBAs. I don't see any difference in it, Mr. Speaker. I would like the Minister to tell me what that difference is. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One flows from a modern treaty -- the settlement of a land claim -- and the other flows from something that is not part of a treaty, but is in fact a separate contractual arrangement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today, I spoke about my constituent, Ms. Carmen Tees, who is in the gallery today who is suffering from MS, as well as depression, austio arthritis, sleep apnea, and she's shut in most of the year. She is not allowed to move into the new apartment building that is barrier free because she has a cat. Mr. Speaker, I have two small points to make. The Yellowknife Housing Authority has made a no pet policy for this building and that is a human rights breach. Mr. Speaker, I would like to hear the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation position of whether the NWT recognizes medical therapeutic, other benefits companion pets can provide our elderly and disabled constituents. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We certainly respect and recognize the use of animals, pets, if you want to call them that, who are considered to be service providers. For example, a seeing eye dog. But in terms of companion pets, I really don't know, Mr. Speaker, that the Housing Corporation has a position on that.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, I have letters that have been sent in from doctors, clinical therapists, even the former president of the Housing Corporation and directors of the Housing Corporation that have all said in a timely way they will make sure she gets a unit. By the way, Ms. Tees was one of the genesis clients to go out there to find out what they need for a disabled building to suit disabled people's needs. So, Mr. Speaker, will the Minister of the Housing Corp go back and have this policy reviewed in a fair way, because it's my opinion that it's a human rights breach? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is the Yellowknife Housing Authority that is responsible for the policies with regard to the management of the units that the Member is referring to. Mr. Speaker, it's their policy decision. I will ensure that they have knowledge of the Member's concern and that they take it into consideration. But we have to keep in mind they are responsible for managing the units. They have the authority to set the policies and we don't want to interfere in something that is their authority. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Mr. Speaker, if I can refer without reading them, I have two NWT Housing Corp letters, one from the president and one from the director of policy and programs, instructing the Yellowknife Housing Authority to accommodate this constituent as soon as any facility becomes available that is absolutely suitable. Mr. Speaker, we have an eight-plex next door right out her front window, Mr. Speaker, or side window, sorry. The fact is it's there and now they have obstructed her entering this building because she has a cat. Are they afraid of a little cat, for goodness sakes, Mr. Speaker? Mr. Speaker, will the Minister of the Housing Corporation go back and tell the housing authority to let this woman in, because it is an absolute necessity for her well-being to have this cat in there. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not sure they are afraid of a cat, but they might be.

Mr. Speaker, I will make sure that they are aware of the issue that the Member has raised. But as I said before, this is their authority. They are the Yellowknife Housing Authority. They have the right to set the policies. They have no right to break human rights legislation or rights, but, Mr. Speaker, they have to take into consideration the needs of all of the tenants in the units that they occupy. I will make sure they are aware of this concern. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the Minister's position on the fact that they are not allowed to breach human rights. So, Mr. Speaker, I would like to get a commitment from the Minister today because we own the buildings and we can set policy, territorial-broad policy, not just one housing authority, all housing authorities. I would like him to agree today that he will go in and investigate this problem and make sure that we do not have to march down to the Human Rights Commission office downtown to make sure this lady gets into this unit, because she absolutely deserves to be there. Even the Housing Corp president has mentioned that and the director has mentioned that she should be in this building. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said, this is within the jurisdiction of the Yellowknife Housing Authority. I will make sure they are aware of the concern the Member has raised. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Oral questions. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.