Bob Bromley

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of the NWT Housing Corporation. Last fall I asked the Minister about vacant home ownership units in Detah and Ndilo in the riding of Weledeh. The waiting list for public and market rent units is long, and the people can’t see the sense of leaving unsold units standing vacant. The Minister replied, saying that approval notice for home ownership applications would be issued January 31st, and that home ownership units not allocated will be used as replacement of public housing units or market rental units.

How many of these units were sold...

Are those terminating or being completed this fiscal year that we’re in?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to table a letter from Alternatives North addressed to Scott Vaughan, commissioner of the Environmental and Sustainable Development office of the Auditor General, regarding their petition on perpetual care of contaminated sites at the Giant Mine. Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister has told me that justices want these mental health services in place. In his work with the Minister of Health, and in recognizing that the programs being proposed for 2013-14 are in the budget, will these programs meet, as proposed, the needs assessed by justice requirements for a mental health court? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Justice. The Department of Justice has been working on the development of a mental health diversion court in response to repeated committee requests and motions passed in this and the 16th Assembly. The Minister has told me that justices are generally supportive but need to be assured that the model to be used will satisfy conditions for being a legal alternative form of sentencing.

How is the Minister working to ensure that this legal test is met and when can we expect to see these proposals for review by committee? Mahsi.

I did, indeed, give the Minister considerable notice here, so I appreciate that I will be getting that information very soon.

Last session I asked the Minister why home ownership units stand unsold, pointing out that income rating and debt restrictions often prevent people from meeting program eligibilities. A more individual approach is needed. Both the Housing Corporation and I would like to see increased home ownership.

What is the Minister doing to evaluate the Housing Choices program to include some applicant file audits and to pursue other measures to tune up the program and get people...

Music to my ears. Thanks again. Given the imminent and long sought powers of devolution, we could ensure Giant Mine is the last massive liability dumped on the taxpayer. This government introduced environmental security requirements for activities on Commissioner’s land. What is the government’s plan for moving swiftly to extend these requirements to new legislation through devolution to use of the land we’ll be taking control of following devolution?

Mr. Speaker, thanks to the Minister. This is a very serious concern, obviously, dealing with arsenic trioxide.

The water licence applications submitted under the auspices of an emergency, which excuses it from review process and so on, contains additional provisions to carry out work underground. So this work will not be regulated by environmental conditions governing the overall remediation project. AANDC argues the underground work is urgent, but YKDFN, the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, doesn’t agree, and others question the work qualifies for the emergency exemption required to go ahead...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There is more news and recognition to the City of Yellowknife’s achievements on the environment. Recognized by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities recently, the city has taken steps to reduce greenhouse gases and improve energy efficiency, thereby achieving the fifth milestone of the Partners for Climate Protection Program. The program is a network of municipal governments that have committed to reduce greenhouse gases and act on climate change. Fort Smith and Fort Simpson are also partners for climate protection communities.

Municipalities progress through five...

Our biggest department, probably our biggest challenges, very heavily dependent on technology, very expensive technology, so there’s lots of work here. I appreciate the work he does on these challenges. I also very much appreciate our social programs. I think we have a very effective bunch working on that front, too, and I know the Minister appreciates that.

I just want to mention the social determinates of health. To me, this is the framework within which I like to view things. It’s a broad scope. They are early childhood development education; ability of one to get a job; the kind of work...