Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues in the House for your comments. I’ve been listening closely and I appreciate the degree of support and criticisms that I’ve heard.

There is, indeed, a critical need to support our communities, particularly given our high and rising cost of living, particularly in the base of low unemployment for many of our public housing tenants. It is an enabling policy in a very direct way. It provides an opportunity to help people get into homeownership and to keep away from arrears, to support their families in the full participation in our society that we all desire.

The Minister is concerned that in fact it will not encourage the high income earners from participating in the full rent. I’d say the evidence is much stronger that we have many more low income earners who would appreciate and benefit from the significant pluses that this simple policy change can engender.

Mrs. Groenewegen mentioned the possibility available right now to replace this very modest loss of income with a 5 percent reduction through the example of the seniors she provided. That is a direct response to the Minister’s concern about that modest bit of lost income.

I think, in summary, this is not a complete answer but is a very important step and one that has been

taken by other jurisdictions, including our neighbour to the west and possibly to the east.

I think the main message we want to put forward in the House today is, don’t wait. We’ve waited a long time for this public housing rent subsidy review. It looks like we’re going to wait longer. The message is: Don’t wait. Start now. This is a simple, enabling, and viable policy change. Let’s get it done.

I look forward to the support of the House. I would request a recorded vote.