Caroline Cochrane

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I do appreciate the Member’s comments. I think that the whole of the GNWT is committed, like I say, to housing and recognize the need, and is committed to trying to address the needs of the residents of the NWT as best as possible. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The NWT Housing Corporation is always open to cost-effective solutions to provide needed housing within our communities. Should opportunities within the communities arise, then we’re certainly open to exploring them. The community involvement is really important to the Housing Corporation and all contractors hired by the Housing Corporation are actually expected to maximize our northern and our local content whenever possible. The Housing Corporation also monitors the contractors to ensure that they meet all the agreed terms and conditions in the contract including their local and their...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I’ll let Mr. Anderson answer that one.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That is correct.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Jim Martin will address that answer.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We do strive to get housing maintainers for those positions. These are community positions and we try to work with the capacities within each community. It depends on what the abilities and the skills within the communities and who applies for the positions. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, the needs assessment that’s done, for example the 2014 needs assessment that was done last, is done every five years. That is used throughout, nationally, actually, and that defines the core need that people advocate within that, 30 per cent of your income going to housing, et cetera. That’s a national tool that we utilize to kind of determine where we are on par with the other regions. The survey that we’re seeking to send out is really about individual choices and individual needs. The biggest thing that stuck out for me is Aboriginal governments asking me for...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members may be aware that the Housing Corporation is actually already on that. We are putting out a survey that will develop a community-based plan and we’re more than willing to work with the health and social services department in providing services. When those surveys are received back we will know exactly what each community wishes and we would base our actions for the coming future based on the community needs. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. For this year, we’ll actually save about $500,000 by transferring that six cents per kilowatt to each family member. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We can work on that as well. I would like to meet with committee on that. We’ll do the costing, bring it to committee. The biggest thing that I’m really conscious of when meeting with the Yukon Territory housing Minister who has been in her term for a number of terms, has said that this is the first time that we’ve got all three territories to come together on housing and actually agree to a partnership. I really want to be careful that we don’t sabotage that because trust is really hard to gain and really easy to lose. We will do the costing and we’ll bring it to...