David Krutko

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, We are presently in the process of redefining the mandate of the Housing Corporation. As we all know, the social housing responsibility will be devolved to Education. We are preparing a presentation for Cabinet with regard to the mandate change which will be happening later on this week. Hopefully, we will have something to take to committee by the end of the month. We are hoping to be able to move forward on that. With the mandate change, we are hoping to see how we fit into the scenario of programs and services and, more importantly, focus on property...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as you know, we have concluded different needs surveys. We have been able to pinpoint a lot of these areas where we do have very low standards in regard to living conditions where people live. I think that whole thrust behind the reports that have come forward is we have identified some 20 communities that are in core need, and I think through those needs surveys we are able to identify those communities that need the resources. As a department, we are making sure that all the resources that we do have are going to those communities to get down those...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, we have reduced in the area of, as we all know, the human resources section. That has now been centralized, so there has been a decline in the human resources positions of the department due to the centralization throughout government departments. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, again, we have to realize that we are dealing with different parties dealing with the social impact benefits. What we are hoping to do is have some verbal, if not written, commitment made prior to the decision to go forward with the pipeline, and also making sure that when the decisions are made on wherever these camps are going to be, that at the end of the project, we will have the ability to take those over at a negotiated price, working with the federal government to get the resources we will need for this project in the next five years. We need to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don’t have that detail in regard to the actual operational costs, but I know in regard to Somba K’e we had winterized that facility, which basically shut down last winter. We are in the process now of talking with the band and other corporations, and I know that the facility in Tuk was occupied with a few elders last year, but they are being used. So, Mr. Speaker, I don’t have the total operational costs of those facilities, but we are looking at alternative uses for those facilities, and we are trying to occupy them. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with regard to the headquarters and the operation of the Housing Corporation, roughly the total budget is in the range of seven percent, which is a lot lower than other departments. A majority of our expenses are spent in the communities, and we have a district staff roughly in the range of five percent of the budget. So between the district offices and the headquarters office, you’re looking at just a little over 10 percent, which, compared to other departments, is very low. I think that you have to realize that almost 85 percent of our budget is expended...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if the project goes according to time schedules, we are hoping to look at this project proceeding somewhere in 2010.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform the House about some of the steps that have been taken by the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation to further improve our energy management.

The Housing Corporation has taken a proactive approach to energy efficiency in its construction projects for many years. Additionally, the corporation has benefited greatly from the historically low rates of utility consumption by public housing tenants as compared to residents of private rental accommodations. Both efforts have lessened the impact of increased fuel and energy prices on the corporation and its...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Housing Corporation reserves the right to accept or reject any bids based on the tendering process. It is spelled out in the tendering documents. It does not always have to go to the lowest tender. Because of that, we are looking to a legal opinion in regards to how this issue will be resolved. We are working on that.

Again, in regards to the Tlicho ability to take over housing, under their self-government arrangement they have that ability once they feel they have the capacity to do so. It is up to them to determine when they want to take over...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there was a bid process which did take place. There was one bidder. But there was also another process that was in the works in regards to a negotiated contract from the community of Rae in regards to allowing them to do it through a negotiated contracting process. At the time, under the process for negotiated contracts, you needed the support of the local MLA. They did not have an MLA at the time the request came in. At the same time there was a change in government with the Tlicho Government in the community, and there was a transitional period that...