Caroline Cochrane

Currently, the complete implementation of 911 is currently not in the new business plan; however, we have been working with the MLAs and the Minister responsible for Finance has promised that if we can get reductions during this business year that we will be looking at spending money on new initiatives. 911 is one of the new initiatives that we are looking at pushing forward if we can save money currently and use that money for later implementation.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to recognize Laura Boileau and William Greenland from A New Day. I'd also like to recognize Ernie Abel from the Tree of Peace. My good friend Annie Harry who I'm glad to have here. Then the NWT Association of Communities, Ms. Sara Brown, the Chief Executive Officer; Mayor Mark Heyck, the City of Yellowknife; Mayor Charles Furlong from Aklavik; Mayor Ray Ruben from Paulatuk; Mayor Craig McMaster from Enterprise; Councillor Donna Lee Jungkind from Hay River; and Councillor Clarence Wood from Inuvik. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The policy that we are speaking about right now is actually not an easy policy; it's very difficult. The reason that we did put on a time line of the forgivable loans starting to come off after five years and up to a ten-year period is because we found that, when we were doing the loans to people — some people, not all, in fairness — some of the people that we were providing the loans to were actually turning around and selling the units soon after they'd gotten the loans.

So they had fixed up their house, gotten up to $100,000 on taxpayers' money, and then turned around and sold the unit. So...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Currently the policy for family members who inherit a debt from a deceased parent and get ownership of the house is that, if they decide to sell the unit, they either have to pay back the loan that was taken by the parent or else. If they wish to stay in the unit, they can take on the forgivable loan and they would just take it on. It is a forgivable loan, so if you stay in the unit over five years it starts to come off without financial contributions. So that is the current policy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As stated many times, we are currently doing the engagement survey that will be coming out -- it should be in the MLAs' hands for the last review of the format and the questions. It will be going out to every user of Housing's services and every employee and local housing organization for their feedback.

We are giving two months for the feedback to be brought in, so starting in January we will be doing a thorough review of every single policy and every single program that we offer.

As stated earlier, currently the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs is providing funding to NWT Recreation and Parks Association, which is one of the five, for the Elders in Motion program, and we're also providing it for the Canada 55+ Games. We do recognize that there is an issue with physical literacy and so that will be a topic that's on the agenda.

I should also state that there has been a representative from one of the seniors' organizations that has recently come forward and asked if we would consider working with them also to provide a new program for seniors. I don't have...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I agree. I think it is a wise idea. In capital plans in the future, we will add an explanation. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is really nice to be able to say yes sometimes. So yes, we are actually looking at a four-plex model that we will actually be providing. We are trying to move away from the independent units. We recognize that there is more cost effectiveness and energy efficiency with units that aren't single. Yes, I can commit to looking at a four-plex for the smaller communities. Thank you.

---Applause

Like I said before, we are bringing the organizations together. It probably will be a little bit of a process to get through identifying what the duplications are, what the gaps are, who's going to take them on, how we develop that, where we go forward, but I can commit to once all of that information is received that I will put that forward to all of the Members of the Legislative Assembly.

Mr. Chair, would it be appropriate to ask the Member to repeat her question? Thank you.