Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, will be supporting this motion.

I spoke in my Member’s statement about the need for an evaluation of policies and procedures and programs within the Housing Corporation. If I understood the Member correctly, he stated that it will be another year before we get the completion of a Shelter Policy which should be all-encompassing.

I don’t believe that we need to wait a year before this particular policy change can take effect. I believe it was mentioned by my colleague Mr. Bromley that this is a change that is relatively easily done. I don’t believe that it needs to wait a year, nor should it wait a year in order for it to be done at the same time that the Shelter Policy is put in place. It’s my experience that comprehensive and involved evaluations tend to take a lot longer than we

expect, so when we think it’s going to be ready for the beginning of the 17th Assembly, it’s probably

quite likely that it’s going to be at least half as much again of that time frame.

The impact of this policy as it is currently written using the 30 percent figure can be really debilitating on families. It’s something that needs to be evaluated. I believe this is a policy which does not encourage people to work. It doesn’t encourage people to find a job and to keep a job and to stay working. I don’t feel that it is a policy that enables people. Those are the kind of policies that we need to have in terms of our housing. All of our policies need to be looked at in that light. Are they doing what we want them to do? Are they encouraging people to be productive and lead productive lives?

Just in general, I am supportive of this motion.