Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to talk about the lack of a coordinated policy for housing for seniors and people with disabilities. Mr. Speaker, I don’t think it’s the responsibility of this government; I think it’s the honest duty of this government to make sure that we address the housing needs for our seniors and disabled constituents. Mr. Speaker, I still speak firmly that we do not have a coordinated access program for barrier-free access housing, Mr. Speaker. It should be a principle of this government to make sure our seniors and our disabled constituents are treated fairly and properly in homes; where we do not treat them as shut-ins, but take care of them with the dignity they so rightly deserve, Mr. Speaker.

Hear! Hear!

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Mr. Speaker, we may not be breaking any official laws. I can guarantee you that some bureaucrat out there will take a tape measure and say, yes, we’re treating this perfectly to the letter of the law. But I’m not talking about building things to the minimum, Mr. Speaker. I’m talking about giving people their lives; I’m talking about giving them a life worth living, Mr. Speaker. So I’m going to say that this government needs a firm policy on how to help address the housing needs of those seniors and disabled people, Mr. Speaker.

This government needs to embrace independent living. We have people living longer and wanting to live productive lives. Again, let’s not treat them as shut-ins. Let’s give them a chance to live a full and productive life, Mr. Speaker, with dignity.

Mr. Speaker, a couple of months ago I brought a couple of units to the attention of the housing Minister. I have to, first and foremost, say that I do appreciate that he did send some people in there to see the Beirut-type conditions that those folks are living under.

---Laughter

Mr. Speaker, I hope he sent them in there wearing hard hats and safety vests because these were horrible conditions we had people looking into. I have to give compliments to the Minister for addressing that problem, first and foremost. But we can’t stop there. Our government needs a policy to make sure these folks are living.

Mr. Speaker, that example, in closing, I’m going to say this was the first step. Finally, it’s nice to see the Housing Corporation move their stone feet and get into this race and deal with this problem. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause