Mr. Speaker, I have a return to Written Question 21-16(4) asked by Mr. Robert Hawkins on February 12, 2010, regarding barrier-free housing.

Later today, at the appropriate time, I will table the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Design Guidelines for units incorporating barrier-free/visitable design features, as well as a listing of public housing units that incorporate barrier-free features in the NWTHC inventory. As specific data on the number of bedrooms is still being compiled, I will provide this information to the Member prior to the next sitting of the Legislative Assembly.

The NWTHC considers a unit to be barrier free or visitable if it provides a basic level of accessibility and independent access for everyone, including people with limited mobility or those with disabilities. While the modifications that may be made to a unit are unique to the personal situation of the resident who requires these modifications, they can include items such as a one-level no-step entry, wider doorways, a wheelchair accessible bathroom on the main floor, reinforced bathroom walls, levered door handles, raised electrical outlets, and lowered climate controls and light switches.