Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Minister McLeod.

Okay. Page 5-41. You will notice, committee, that the budget for the NWT Housing Corp actually appears in the Department of Finance where it will be approved and considered. Every item within the Housing Corp’s tabled document here is basically an information item, but we’ll go through each page as we would with the other departments and if you have questions, we’ll agree with them or not agree with them as we go forward.

We would like to defer the department summary, the financial summary information on page 5-41, and go onto page 5-43, corporate summary, information item, operations...

Alright. I’d like to allow the Minister the opportunity to respond to the general comments. Minister McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Minister McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of this motion. To start I’d like to make some general comments on the Ministers’ statements made earlier today as I believe they are relevant to the motion at hand.

With respect to the statements made by the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, it was a nice statement. It didn’t really say anything. While listening I didn’t hear anything that would suggest the board reform is necessary or that education should be rolled into health and housing.

With respect to the Minister of Health and Social Services’ statement, it did identify some...

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Minister McLeod.

So for clarity, the answer is yes?

Mr. Anderson.

This is a sad day. It is unfortunate that we have to be here at all to consider a motion of this magnitude. It is unfortunate that this 16th Legislative Assembly had to get to such a negative place.

I was born and raised in the Northwest Territories. It is my home and l love it. There is no other place I would rather be. When I die, what is left of me will be buried in the ground here in the Northwest Territories.

I ran for MLA because I wanted to do good things for the people of the Northwest Territories and I still want to do good things for all of the people in the Northwest Territories. I...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Whereas the Minister of Health and Social Services had proposed to implement a new Supplementary Health Benefits Program on April 1, 2009, and has now proposed to defer the implementation of that program until September 1, 2009;

And whereas many northern seniors depend on the coverage for dental, vision, drugs and supplies for which they are eligible under the existing Extended Health Benefits Program;

And whereas many northern seniors live on fixed incomes, which do not allow them to absorb increased costs for drugs and other health care costs;

And whereas many northern...