David Krutko

Mr. Speaker, as we all know, the problem we face here is we don’t have a means of doing an asset-based test on what assets these seniors have. In order for us to change it, that seemed to be where the problem is. How do you assess an individual by way of an application process to ensure that they are aboveboard on whether they can afford rent or can’t they? That’s why this problem is unique to the market communities and that’s where we have to focus our decision. Again, we will be having to come forward and have a discussion paper to look at how we can make these changes. We are already...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I, too, would like to take this opportunity to recognize that summer is on its way. It’s a time for us to enjoy the season, but, more importantly, enjoy our friends, our family and our children who will be out of school. More importantly, for the people that are going to be out in their bush camps and their fish camps along the river and also being able to enjoy the festive season that we do have in the summer, such as our music festivals, such as the Pokiak Festival, Midway Lake, Canoe Days and also we have the Inuvik Arts Show that goes on every July.

W...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I previously committed to the Member, we will be holding housing forums in the Sahtu and the Deh Cho within the next number of months. I feel that’s probably a more appropriate time to add this to the agenda during those meetings. So maybe that is something we can add to the agenda when we host those meetings in the Sahtu and Deh Cho.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I stated in my commitment here today, I will have to go back to Cabinet and get direction. Once direction is given, I will take it back to the Social Programs committee. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the policy was put in place in the 12th Assembly. The 12th Assembly to where we are today in the 15th, a lot of circumstances have changed. In the 12th Assembly, we were part of Nunavut. The whole intention of this policy was to ensure that seniors in social housing were not to pay rent. The majority of our clients at that time were in the smaller communities, which made up the majority of the Members in this House. I think we also have to realize that the policy was there with good intentions, but the cause of some circumstances of the changing economy in...

Mr. Speaker, again, Mr. Speaker, we have not made a decision to basically have seniors in public housing pay rent at this time. But the reason I’m saying at this time is because presently we are doing a review in regards to the income security review that’s going on in the programs we have in the Northwest Territories. Right now there’s about $100 million that’s being given out by way of some subsidy or another. Again, right now those dollars are being allocated to the Department of Education, Culture and Employment in which we’re going to ensure that we have a system in place that is fair to...

Mr. Speaker, we are hoping that at some point in time it will be owned and managed by the Seniors' Society in Hay River, but, again, we are working in conjunction with the Housing Corporation and the Seniors' Society to basically work out the arrangement of exactly who will take ownership of this facility once we basically have made a decision on what type of facility we’re looking at. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the seniors and public housing initiative will continue on at the present time. It’s a policy of the government. Again, the policy clearly states that people who live in public housing will not have to pay rent. There is another process that is going on with regard to reviewing the income security review. That now falls within the domain of the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. We have decided to centralize our social funding responsibilities and try to ensure that it is a fair distribution of money. Right now the policy is there and the...

Mr. Speaker, again, Mr. Speaker, we have not made a decision to basically have seniors in public housing pay rent at this time. But the reason I’m saying at this time is because presently we are doing a review in regards to the income security review that’s going on in the programs we have in the Northwest Territories. Right now there’s about $100 million that’s being given out by way of some subsidy or another. Again, right now those dollars are being allocated to the Department of Education, Culture and Employment in which we’re going to ensure that we have a system in place that is fair to...

Mr. Speaker, these units are for seniors in Hay River who basically have low incomes. This is going to be similar to public housing that we provide the seniors at the present time. I know there were concerns in regard to condos and whatnot that were in the mix. That is no longer part of this scenario, so we are only focussing on low income seniors to provide social housing for seniors in Hay River. Thank you.