Bob Bromley

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of the NWT Housing Corporation. I’d like to follow up on my statement earlier today. My colleagues and I have spoken in the past about including more creative mechanisms in our collection of rents in communities. With few jobs, the lack of wage opportunities could be offset by allowing tenants to reduce their rent by, for example, supplying wood for the community or public housing, or giving their labour in maintaining and repairing houses. I’m wondering if the Minister can say if such options are being examined in the Shelter Policy...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just want to follow up and thank Mr. Hawkins for his support. I, of course, did not mention anything about selling art; I talked about display and exhibition of art. Nor did I mention anything about free space. I, in fact, mentioned that Heritage Canada is interested in partnering and paying for this infrastructure. I just wanted to express my appreciation for his support there on my main points.

I think there’s been a good discussion on this need for a good policy. One of the priorities for this government is diversification of our economy and I think it’s well...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to follow up on the Housing Minister’s statement on the Shelter Policy review and public housing rental assessment rates.

On November 3rd last year, this Assembly called on the government to reduce the maximum rate for assessment of public housing rents from 30 to 25 percent of gross income. Yukon charges 25 percent of gross income and Nunavut has a sliding scale between 10 and 28 percent. As an example, public housing for a four-person household living on two minimum wage incomes in Detah pay $1,200 per month at 30 percent, or about 40 percent of net income...

Thank you for that information. Can I just confirm that there has been no request for any maintenance or upgrades to the Sissons School in Yellowknife? Thank you.

Thank you. Just on that then, I did have another question that I would appreciate a response on. But on this one, which department should I be talking to on this one? Thank you.

Just to complete that for me, will that be completed this fiscal year before the schematic design and the next steps are begun? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. There are a few points I’d like to bring out here. First of all, the deferred maintenance is an important issue. We know that we have quite a backlog. We have made some progress and I appreciate that, and there’s still much more to go and the department is continuing to work on that. That’s good work.

I want to highlight the schools in Yellowknife. Particularly Sissons is one that keeps getting docked and put on the backburner, yet there’s obviously a very high need in that area. I’d appreciate knowing what the plan is for when that will finally be addressed. That’s been...

Thank you. That was the information I was looking for. I appreciate that response. If I could get just a plain language description of what sort of planning is being funded for the proposed fiscal year and the next fiscal year. I know that hospitals are particularly challenging, complex and demanding, and if I could get just a brief description of what sort of planning is being done over the next fiscal year. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate that from the Minister, and I think it would be great if it was just routine practice from now on that we include a member from the public.

My last question, Mr. Speaker. I see the Minister is bringing it forward to submit in the House and, again, I’m hoping this is standard practice but I’d like to confirm. Will the committee have an opportunity to review and comment on this report so that the Minister can consider their input before it is tabled in the House? Mahsi.

Just to confirm that, obviously there are some health concerns and so on there. Can the Minister confirm that that work will finish up fairly quickly and take care of that problem?