Michael Miltenberger

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document, entitled 2006-2007 Annual Report of the Western Northwest Territories Biophysical Study. Thank you.

Document 20-16(2), 2006-2007 Annual Report of the Western Northwest Territories Biophysical Study, tabled.

Finally, I give notice that on Monday, February 18, 2008, I will move that Bill 7, Securities Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I also give notice that on Monday, February 18, 2008, I will move that Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Maintenance Orders Enforcement Act, be read for the first time.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the concerns of the Member, and I recognize that in some cases our policy design and program design tend to have a very modern, urban focus and sometimes maybe undervalues the reality that in small communities where people burn wood — as the Member indicated, they may be living in log homes or older homes where they don’t have fire hydrants and those type of things…. So those are very legitimate concerns.

I would extend the invitation that the Member made. In fact, I would like to broaden it to say that I would be very pleased to sit down with the housing officials and...

Mr. Speaker, in the information I have, in 2004-2005, there were 168 clients; in 2005-2006, 156; and in 2006-2007, 162.

Mr. Speaker, as far as I know, under the rules of SFA, as long as a student is on SFA and is training and is eligible for SFA and is down south in post-secondary institutions upgrading their education, they continue to be considered a Territory resident, they’re covered with their health care, they continue to get SFA, and they’re considered to be N.W.T. residents for the purposes of all those areas, including voting. So we’re very clear that if you’re there for two years, four years, working on your Masters, you’re a Northerner, and we want you to come home. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, on my way I saw a constituent, Mr. Archie Smith, who I’m very pleased and honoured to recognize, and as well Mr. Rodgers, the chair of the WCB from Inuvik. I had breakfast with him this morning.

I give notice that on Monday, February 18, 2008, I will move that Bill 6, An Act to Amend the Residential Tenancies Act, be read for the first time.

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Monday, February 18, 2008, I will move that Bill 4, Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2008, be read for the first time.

Mr. Speaker, under the CARE program…. The Member indicated in his Member’s statement that there was a consolidation of programs, and the one that now captures the seniors and disabled funding is the CARE Program. Seniors are now eligible to apply every year for up to $2,000. There is, as well, a larger home repair program for seniors in their own homes for a forgivable loan for $90,000 that’s repayable — or forgivable — up to anywhere from one to ten years. The previous amount was, I believe, $20,000 over ten years, and you couldn’t reapply for ten years. In this new one, as soon as it’s paid...