Seniors are given the priority but that doesn’t appear to be the case. I’ve got a senior in Trout Lake who applied for programming but exhausted all programming available that the NWT Housing Corporation has, even though he’s an elder and a senior. I asked specifically, he’s a senior, he needs emergency repairs, what can be done. They said, no, he’s exhausted all areas. That’s why I believe we should reinstate at least the seniors and elders repair program to address these specific needs.

We all have seniors in our ridings that would like to access some of the programs. Some of our seniors get turned down because of the income. If the particular person has exhausted all the programs that we have to offer, then there would be no need for repairs in this particular case. I’m pretty sure in this particular case we’re able to assist the senior and that again goes to show that even though they’ve exhausted all the programs that we have to offer and the money that comes with it, we’re still willing to assist a senior that needed our help.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Despite that I still believe that our Housing Corporation should gravitate towards a seniors and elders program designed specifically for maintenance and care and even replacement of small household items. I’ll be making a motion to that later on in the day.

We had 416 elders up taking the seniors program in 2005-2006. Can the Minister even detail how many elders are up taking our programs this fiscal year?

I will get the information together for the Member. I know this particular year we’ve had over 800-and-something applications territory-wide. I’m sure we can break it down and get the numbers that the Member is requesting.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just have a few more questions to the Minister of MACA. I know in response to some questions he had earlier when I asked whether it was a sale or a lease, and he had mentioned that it is a lease now but it initially was a sale. I’d like to ask the Minister, if it was initially a sale, how the application proceeded so far along without a survey of the land being conducted.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Robert McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The sale wasn’t final until a survey was going to be done. So a survey had to be done and then the sale would have been final.

Has a survey been done of the 36,000 acres that are being disposed of by the department?

No, the survey has not been done. It is the intent of the Norman Wells Land Corporation within the next three years to have a legal survey of the land done and then at that time they will purchase the property.

I think, you know, obviously we need to learn how this happened and why it happened, because I think it’s important for communities around the Northwest Territories to understand how this works. In looking through the legislation and policies, there’s not even a requirement for the department to advise Cabinet of a decision to dispose of land, let alone Regular Members. I think that’s a hole in our policies and legislation that needs to be shored up. Even the

deputy minister’s authority, I think we need to be taking a look at this. They have the authority on the size of parcels, pricing of the parcel. I’d like to ask the Minister how the price was arrived at on the lease for the 36,000 acres.

I sign off Commissioner’s lands transactions three or four times a week. We have properties all across the Northwest Territories where people are applying for Commissioner’s property. Now, is it the Member’s wish that I inform the Members, even though it’s not their particular riding, of all the transactions that take place or is there a size limit to it? If that’s his wish, then it’s something we can do. The price that was arrived at in this was in accordance with the land pricing policy of the Government of the Northwest Territories.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It wouldn’t be my belief that the Minister should be informing us on every transaction, but I think we’re moving into a new area, a new realm of how we do business and again it’s going to be a bigger issue post-devolution.

The majority of issues the Minister would sign off on are quarries, residential lots, things of that nature. When we’re talking about attractive land, three parcels of land totalling 36,000 acres, I think it’s a different ballgame. I think going forward we need to ensure that we have the legislation and policies in place that are going to let communities know what the rules of engagement are when it comes to disposal of Commissioner’s land. I’d just like to ask the Minister if we could review how we deal with large tracts of land and transactions in that regard.

I will commit to the Member that we will have a look at how land is disposed of. Again I just want to assure the Member and Members of this House that this land was all disposed of in accordance with and all the proper processes were followed. They had expressed an interest, they got a hold of us, we worked with them and a deal was worked out. Though some people may not like the decision, that’s just the way this whole thing played out and the Norman Wells Land Corporation has some development plans for the future to benefit their people and if there’s an opportunity there for us to help them, then we will.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Item 8, written questions. Item 9, returns to written questions. Item 10, replies to opening address. Item 11, petitions. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to present a petition dealing with the matter of saving the Joe Greenland Centre. The petition contains 193 electronic signatures. Of those, 109 signatures identify themselves as resident of the Northwest Territories. The petitioners request that the Government of the Northwest Territories continue to operate the Joe Greenland Centre in Aklavik as a long-term care facility.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Item 12, reports of standing and special committees. Item 13, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 14, tabling of documents. The honourable Minister responsible for Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Bob McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Item 15, notices of motion. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Thursday, February 24, 2011, I will move the following motion: I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that, notwithstanding Rule 4, when this House adjourns on Thursday, February 24, 2011, it shall be adjourned until Monday, February 28, 2011;

And further, that any time prior to February 28, 2011, if the Speaker is satisfied, after consultation with the Executive Council and the Members of the Legislative Assembly, that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during the adjournment, the Speaker may give

notice and thereupon the House shall meet at the time stated in such notice and shall transact its business as it has been duly adjourned to that time. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, February 24, 2011, I will move the following motion: I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Sahtu, that this Legislative Assembly strongly recommends the NWT Housing Corporation reintroduce a home maintenance and repair program for seniors. Thank you.