Thanks, Mr. Chair. Yes, I recognize this is some sort of balancing act between maintaining your units and trying to build new ones, but if we have got the capital for new ones or even maintenance and so on capped for a long time, that is probably not where we should be in terms of housing.

When I look at the list of projects on pages 73 through 75, I do not think there is actually any new construction. We have a list of, like, 35 projects here, and they are all retrofits or replacements. There is not one new unit being constructed by the Housing Corporation in this year. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The list of projects where they do say "replacement" are actually new builds. We have within this proposed fiscal year coming up, we have a total of 21 public house replacements. There will be 21 new housing units on the ground where the units that are currently there are not usable. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. That is helpful, but we are not actually expanding our housing stock in any way. When it says here "replacement," we are replacing a unit that is not as derelict in the community. We are not actually expanding our housing stock in any ways. Is that the case? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Right across Canada, most jurisdictions actually have a halt on because of the declining CMHC funding that was announced many years ago, as well. All jurisdictions have been negotiating with the federal government to reverse that decision so that we can get funded for the operating and maintenance of units.

Within those negotiations, the federal government has agreed to put a halt on it temporarily, but that is not a permanent decision by them. That is why I am looking at different initiatives to move more people into home ownership. Through the lease-to-own, we will be able to increase the stock so that we can actually put more public housing units. By moving people out, it is an internal shuffle where we will be able to actually increase the amount of housing that the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation provides.

However, we do have to live within our means, because we need to be able to pay for the operating and maintenance of these units if and when the federal government says they are coming right out and they are not giving any money for operating and maintenance in the future. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I guess I have two or three comments here. That is good news that CMHC has halted its declining capital infusion. That is very good news, but that is not an excuse for us not to be spending more money on our housing, period.

Lastly, I know that our Cabinet spends a lot of time talking about federal projects, federal funding. Most of it is around big capital projects such as dams and roads, and I want at least as much emphasis on the social side. The Minister knows my views on this very well, and I have expressed them in the House. You have to be expending at least as much effort on the social infrastructure needs of this territory as the physical and resource development side of infrastructure.

I continue to support the Minister going to Ottawa to get more money for housing as opposed to roads. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I do not expect a response.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. I will allow the Minister to respond if she likes. There are 40 seconds left on the clock.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am on it. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Next we have Mr. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We are working with the contractor to try to get the units into the communities. At this point, that is what I can say. We are trying to work as hard as we can to actually get the units into the communities as soon as we can. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I guess I heard something a little bit different. I heard that those units may not be used in my riding, and somebody else may be building something else. Is this what is going to be happening, and what will be happening to those units if they are not coming into Fort Simpson? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister.

Mr. Martin.

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Martin.

Thank you, Mr. Martin. Mr. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank Mr. Martin for that. I actually thank the Minister and the department for meeting with the local contractor. I think that has been a very positive move. I give credit where credit is due, and I would like to thank you guys for working with him. I guess I am trying to understand. These other housing units, there are five other ones, basically two duplexes that are together, the units are together. Are they going to be coming into Fort Simpson, or are we going to be able to allocate these units to another community that is in higher need? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister Cochrane.