Alfred Moses

Since April 1, 2016, we have been working on trying to make a commitment to dispose of 150 units. Currently, to date, we have disposed of 183 surplus units though a combination of sales, getting people into homeownership or lease-to-own, and also through demolition. That is something that we are going to continue to work on with feedback from communities and working with standing committee. We will continue to do that work.

As I mentioned, the community housing plans are something that is unique, and I think, when we work with leadership and communities, that they can tell us what their...

I know that we have been making some good changes within the NWT Housing Corporation. We will get that data for the Member, and we will actually share it with standing committee. I think it is something that we need to share right across the board. The Housing Summit that we just held in late April is something that was also brought up, and we really need to share and develop partnerships with our leadership in the communities and see how we can address the issues. We will get that information, that data, and share it with all Members and leadership. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document entitled "2019-2020 Consolidated Operating Budget, Northwest Territories Housing Corporation." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As I had mentioned, the governance council does approve the budget on an annual basis. They develop a strategic and a corporate plan. Moving forward under this corporate plan, they are focusing on increasing the number of employers with an occupational health and safety program, as well as increasing occupational health and safety education in communities for vulnerable workers. As much as the Member wants to move forward with private industry, we also have to make sure that anybody who does business in the Northwest Territories is also held accountable for the health and safety of our...

As I had mentioned, we do have a corporate plan that's out there. It's done on an annual basis. There is a budget breakdown within this corporate plan, but, for the specifics on the OH&S, I will have to get back to the Member, and I will commit to providing that in a written document. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On any given year, you never know what kind of claims you're going to get in within workers' claims. We want to promote workplace health and safety, of course, both here in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Last fall, in 2018, we did develop a 2019 corporate plan, and that was through the governance council which approves the operations and capital budgets on an annual basis. As I said, we don't know what kind of claims we will be getting on a yearly basis. For more detail, I will have to go back to the WSCC and get that information for the Member. Thank you, Mr...

Yes, we will be looking at engaging with the relevant stakeholders in a project such as this. As I mentioned with the community housing plans, we will want to be engaging with all of the stakeholders in the Town of Hay River, but also having that discussion with the municipality in terms of what lots are available, what land is available. As they become available to the municipality, we will be looking at creating a better partnership in addressing the housing needs in the municipality of Hay River. So, yes, we will be engaging with the stakeholders.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In regard to the questions that the Member had previously asked, I had mentioned that we do know that the building is now over 40 years old. It is something that we are going to be looking at, obviously, considering replacing within the next five years. We will be consulting with the community, obviously, the stakeholders that are in the community of Hay River, on how to address this.

As Members know, I did table a Seniors Planning Study during this session, ensuring that options are out there in terms of what kind of a building we will be constructing in the community...

First of all, we always use an open and fair, transparent public procurement process. When we work with our contractors, we want to make sure that they are meeting the needs of Northerners and ensure that they meet their contract obligations by using local and northern labour as well as businesses. I will be working with the Department of ECE to look at how we can address the apprentices. Not only just in Hay River, but right across the Northwest Territories, in terms of the community housing plans that I have discussed, it is something that we are striving for, to get one in each of the...

As the Member has mentioned, whether it was in committee or it was just discussions that we have had together, the existing lot will be used for future development by the NWT Housing Corporation. We are also looking at assessing land availability options to support its future capital planning requirements through the NWT Housing Corporation, and as I have mentioned to the Member, we are working with the Town of Hay River and encouraging that discussion to keep going, to see how we can address some of the housing needs and concerns with the Town of Hay River.