Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to speak about homeownership programs. The NWT Housing Corporation provides assistance to prospective first time home buyers who are not able to get a mortgage to finance a home through a bank or private mortgage broker. Unfortunately, some of my constituents who are trying to buy homes are refused assistance because they make too much money. These are people who are working with a steady, but modest, income. They are excellent candidates for homeownership. Not only that, homes are sitting empty in our communities right now.

These families were refused mortgages under the Housing Corporation programs. The Housing Corporation income thresholds are set so low that they are not qualifying for homeownership programs; they are falling through the cracks. Now is the time to be proactive and review these thresholds. We need to ensure we are providing a reasonable and practical housing program. We must provide a benefit to our families and support homeownership in our communities and at the

same time we can reduce the need for private public housing.

I will be asking the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation questions at the appropriate time.