Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. We see arrears piling up in our public housing in the small communities and across the Territory. It’s because even people who are working cannot afford the so-called economic rent that they’re being charged by the Housing Corporation. Economic rent is so high it actually encourages people to give up working and go to income support. We have to do just the opposite.

We have to encourage people to keep working. They have to see that they are getting ahead. Economies in small communities are weak, with a few jobs. Everything is expensive, especially trying to buy food for your kids, clothe them. It’s making it tough on families.

Housing arrears are leading to evictions and more eviction notices. The current system of economic rent is just not sustainable. We need an alternative.

It would be good if the alternative support local economy that would, is what its purpose was. The tenants in the public housing need affordable options.

The Maximum Rent Program addresses many problems. It helps keep the people in their homes and keep the people working. The Maximum Rent Program would also help the Housing Corporation with a simpler system and be able to do more. More people could pay their rent.

This is a two-tiered system. We’re going to keep the system that they have already. This option that I’m providing is an option for if the people want to be able to pay for the four or five-bedroom. People that have dual incomes in the small communities, they would be paying $1,200 a month instead of $3,000. It would really help the people when people are trying to get ahead and be able to buy food and clothing for their kids and seeing that they’re actually making headway instead of the government coming in and swooping 30 percent out of their cheque on their gross.

This option is one that I really encourage the government to take. I’m born and raised in the communities, like in Tuk, I’m an Inuvialuit and you never see people want to give hardship to another person. Government could do this. Government is in a position to do good right now to offer this option. It’s an option with an open-handed approach. I really encourage the Minister and his department to make this happen.

I look forward to all Members who will support my motion and I thank them for their support.