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DEH CHO - Balancing a minister's workload and obligations to constituents can be a daunting endeavour for an MLA.

But Deh Cho representative Michael McLeod, said he makes an effort to ensure the people who voted him to office have a voice in the legislative assembly.

McLeod said he continues to address concerns constituents bring to him, following up on concerns in writing and face to face discussions with ministers responsible for the departments in question.

McLeod, who is the minister of Public Works and Services, minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation and minister of Transportation is in the thick of the issues affecting his region.

Housing, the cost of fuel and electricity, as well as road conditions are three of the issues McLeod said have been standard over the past year in his constituency.

Despite his ministerial duties McLeod uses his influence at the cabinet table and on the financial management board to vote on how money should be spent with the interests of the Deh Cho in mind.

Housing continues to be major topic of concern in the Deh Cho, McLeod said.

Home ownership in the region - and across the territory - is a major issue which will not be alleviated by changing federal funding levels.

The last year of funding for the home ownership program from the federal government under the Affordable Housing Initiative ends in 2009-2010. The funding included $50 million from the federal government matched by the territory totalling $100 million over three years. By the end of next year the funding will have built more than 500 new units.

It's concerning that there's been no indication from the federal government the program will be extended, said McLeod.

"It's really going to put a strain on our home ownership program," he said.

The territory is also receiving less funding yearly from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) with all funding scheduled to end by 2038.

The territory has joined with jurisdictions across Canada to push the federal government for stable, long-term funding commitments for both social housing and home ownership, said McLeod.

"We have our work cut out for us in the next while to make sure the programs are extended," he said.

Homegrown housing programs also receive criticism, said McLeod.

The GNWT's homeowner ship program isn't realistic in today's economy, and McLeod said people have told him the income cutoff for the program is too low.

In Fort Providence, for example, a household with an income of more than $65,000 can't qualify for the home ownership program and has to build their own.

"Sixty-five thousand dollars in today's environment doesn't go a long ways," he said.

McLeod said the option of raising the threshold for acceptance into the program, so people who earn more can still apply, is being reviewed.

Heating fuel, gas and electricity prices, contributing to a high cost of living, are also of great concern to many people, McLeod said.

To address the cost of power, the possibility of extending the powerline from the Taltson River hydro station from Hay River to Kakisa and on to Fort Providence is being examined. Northland Utilities is interested in the project, said McLeod.

The idea has been raised by constituents in the past and when the Deh Cho bridge spans the Mackenzie River it will be a possibility, McLeod said. Getting power from Taltson would likely mean a leveling of power rates even as fuel costs rise, he said.

"I hope it will become a reality at some point," said McLeod.

Other constituency concerns include new health centre facilities in Fort Providence and on the Hay River Reserve.

Lately McLeod said the bulk of complaints he's received are from people "quite upset" about road conditions. McLeod said he's looking into complaints about potholes on Highway 1 between Hay River and Kakisa and continuing on in Highway 3 to Fort Providence. Recent snowfall mixed together with rain has also led to slippery road conditions.

"Trying to keep up with it has been a real challenge," said McLeod.