Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A strong volunteer sector contributes directly to sustainable, vibrant and safe communities, one of the priorities of this Legislative Assembly. I would like to speak today about the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs’ work to support the volunteer sector in the Northwest Territories and about the importance of volunteers to our communities.

MACA offers a number of programs intended to support residents in their volunteer efforts. Through the Volunteer Organization Development Contribution Program, MACA provides cost-shared opportunities for volunteers to seek...

In the past we had community liaison officers in some of the communities, but the funding for that was deleted in anticipation of the government service officers coming on board. I believe we have eight communities now that are piloting this particular program. The NWT Housing Corporation was working closely with the Executive as to what we see these folks doing on our behalf in the communities. I believe in one of the Member’s communities there is a government services officer. So this is a pilot project right now. Once we’re able to see the results of this, it may be something that is...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The money that we’d allocated last year for home repair, if you recall, our last year’s budget was $75 million and that was the final year of the federal investment. This year our overall budget is $27 million and a good portion of that is going towards repairs. If you base it on a percentage-wise, I think we’re doing more towards repair this year. We’ve had some units that were proposed to go up, HELP units. We’ve taken those. I think we have four that are proposed to go up this year. We’re taking the money from that and putting it into more home repair, because we do...

I will commit to the Member that I’ll follow up on it, and if I need to, I will make all the LHOs aware of their responsibilities. I don’t think I’d be telling them anything new. I think they’re all well aware of their responsibilities.

Like I said, they’ve been doing this work for a long time. They know what they’re up against. I would like to speak to the Member and get the details of the issues of the cases that he’s raising so that I can follow up on them, because I wasn’t aware of this issue until the Member raised it in the House today.

Our front-line workers at the LHOs have been doing what they do for a long time and they’re well aware of all the issues out there. Again, without knowing the particulars of the issue that the Member is raising, once I find out the particulars I will be able to follow up. I can assure him that all our front-line workers are well aware of their responsibilities and take them very seriously.

Mr. Speaker, further to my Return to Written Question 4-16(6), I wish to table the following document entitled All Contracts for NWT Housing Corporation 2006-2011 for Aklavik, Fort McPherson and Tsiigehtchic. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister will show some leadership but the Minister has to know what he’s dealing with. Without knowing the particulars, again, I can follow up with it once I know the particulars.

I would mention that if tenants out there feel like they’re being discriminated against, there is a process to go through the Human Rights Commission if they feel like they’ve been discriminated against. They have that avenue. Again, I will commit to following up on the issue that the Member is saying because we do take it very seriously. We wouldn’t want to see anybody denied an application because of previous...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m unaware of the situation the Member speaks of. If we have cases where individuals are refused applications, I would like to know the details so I can follow up with it, because we wouldn’t condone that type of treatment to those that want to apply for public housing.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife South, that Bill 8, An Act to Amend the Local Authorities Elections Act, be read for the second time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill amends the Local Authorities Elections Act to implement reforms jointly developed by the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs and the Northwest Territories Association of Communities, and to make a number of minor changes to conform with prevailing drafting practices. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Members have pointed out the fact they’ve brought forward a few motions and I assure the Members that we take those motions very seriously. We are looking at the motions that they’ve brought forward and some of the recommendations we’ve made. We’ve heard a lot of comments this afternoon on trying to get people more independent and getting them out there. That’s our ultimate goal. I mean, we say the visions and goals of the 16th Legislative Assembly is to have healthy, vibrant, safe communities and have our people out there being independent. That’s one thing we try...