Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am very pleased that the RCMP will have 45 new housing units available to them within the next year. The service the RCMP members provide is invaluable to communities and the residents they serve here in the Northwest Territories, and as such, I am pleased with the initiative.

Mr. Speaker, the NWT Housing Corporation is set to supply the RCMP with these new housing units throughout the NWT. These units will go primarily into market communities where there are established real estate developers. Some of these developers have expressed concerns as to why the NWT Housing Corporation is encroaching into the private sector supply of market housing and not providing them an opportunity to supply the units.

Furthermore, Mr. Speaker, the NWT Housing Corporation indicated that the construction of these new RCMP units is not to impact the current housing programs and not to impact the public-housing stock or wait list. However, for Hay River, where RCMP are receiving 12 units, this will require the demolition of several public-housing units.

Mr. Speaker, how is this not impacting the public-housing stock when the land is being re-profiled for use by non-public-housing tenants? This eliminates the land available for future public-housing use. The NWT Housing Corporation has stated on many occasions that they would like to see current tenants own their own home. Now they have their chance to make that happen. Instead of demolishing the existing units, units should be first made available at reasonable cost to tenants who may be in a financial position to own and maintain a home.

Mr. Speaker, turning to the construction of the units, it is my understanding that the RCMP units will be put out to tender shortly. What I am expecting and what I will hold the NWT Housing Corporation accountable to is that all the units will be built in the North by northern contractors and workers. It is not in our best interest as a government to bring in modular homes from southern Canada as all that does is bleed money out of the North and provides no benefit to our businesses, suppliers, and workers. With this project, we have an opportunity to put our businesses and people to work while providing much-needed training. Let's do the right thing. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.