David Krutko

Mr. Speaker, I seek and ask consent to go back to item 14.

Infrastructure Expenditure Appropriation, appropriation authority required: $110,096,000.

Infrastructure Expenditure Appropriation, $110,096,000 approved.

Could you switch to tab 3 of the bill, Bill 3, An Act to Amend the Employment Standards Act.

Clauses 1 and 2 approved.

Mr. Speaker, this issue is not just familiar to one particular region, one particular community; this is a problem right across the Northwest Territories. Communities are trying to address this problem. They have, in most cases, put their own money into putting this infrastructure on the ground. To be fair to all communities on this issue, I’m not waiting ‘til a pilot project is assessed or done or completed.

Could the Minister commit to working with other development corporations throughout the Northwest Territories to improve the existing staff housing stock, and also to deliver more housing...

Question has been called.

Committee motion not carried.

For the record, Mr. Minister, could you introduce your witnesses, please.

Mr. Speaker, the committee has been considering Bill 3, An Act to Amend the Employment Standards Act, and Bill 1, Interim Appropriation Act, 2008-2009, and would like to report progress, with two motions being adopted. Bill 3 is ready for third reading, and Bill 1 is ready for third reading as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with.

My question is for the Minister of Education, Mr. Lafferty. It’s in regard to the area of staff housing. I know that Ms. Bisaro’s question is looking more in line with how we deliver the program. I’d just like to ask the Minister…. I know he mentioned last week that he is working on a pilot project in regard to providing staff housing. Mr. Speaker, we already have a policy in place developed by way of the previous government for market housing in communities. I’d just like to ask the Minister: why is he not using that initiative, instead of making decisions to go with a pilot project?

Mr. Bromley?

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. At this time I’ll ask the Minister responsible for the bill if he’ll be bringing any witnesses.