Glen Abernethy

I agree 100 percent. I think about our long-term costs, given that our funds are decreasing, I think it’s super important.

Which I think goes to the next thing and I know my colleague Mr. Bromley always asks these types of questions, and I know the Housing Corporation has already accepted a standard of construction that is higher than, say, the national standard. When it comes to what we’re doing, I mean, it’s a little bit more expensive to do some of these things now to increase our efficiencies, to go with pellets, to go with other things, woodstoves, all these types of things in our...

I recognize compared to previous years there seem to be a lot less HELP units being built, which I think is fine given that you guys already have a number of vacancies. Once again, I recognize that you’re working hard to fill those vacancies. There are a lot of public housing replacement lines within this capital plan. Once again, I’m curious about the process. How does one determine when a public housing unit has reached the end of its lifecycle? How do we decide to dispose? Are they all destroyed? Are some simply renovated and their life is reinvigorated, if you will? Are some of them sold...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This motion follows with my Member’s statement and questions I asked earlier today.

Mr. Speaker, the mission of the NWT Housing Corporation is to provide access to adequate, suitable and affordable housing. Through this mission, the intent is that through the provision of housing programs and services, the corporation contributes to the health and education of our people and to the development of sustainable, vibrant and safe communities. This is a great intent and a great mission. The problem is with very rigid programs and very rigid policies, I’m not sure that we can...

Now recognizing the clock, I will now rise and report progress.

I hear the Minister and I understand what the Minister is saying, but at the same time individuals who aren’t receiving subsidies, their salaries may change over the year, there may be peak months, there may be depressed months, bills may change, but when I have a month where I happen to make some extra money, I get to put that money where I want. I get to put it towards debts if I choose or I get to buy myself a new guitar if I choose. Whereas these individuals -- and I’m not talking necessarily seasonal, I’m talking really short-term employment opportunities -- when these individuals have an...

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. A motion is on the floor. The motion is being distributed. Actually, before we take that next step, I’d like to thank the Minister and his staff for talking to us today. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses out.

A motion is on the floor. The motion has been distributed. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Following my colleagues, I, too, will be talking about housing.

Over the last year I have had an opportunity to get into a number of the communities. In pretty much every community we go to, one of the issues that comes up over and over again is housing, whether it is about affordability, accessibility or suitability.

There has been a lot of talk about arrears and vacant units and rent costs, as well as lack of flexibility within the Housing Corporation itself when it is delivering programs. To the Minister’s credit, I have heard some movement from the Minister. He is...

Does committee agree that that concludes our consideration of Table Document 66-16(5)?

We’ve concluded the detail so we’ll go back to the first page, which is page 3-10. The NWT Housing Corporation, information item, infrastructure investment summary, total infrastructure investment summary, $16.420 million.

Thank you Mr. Krutko. Minister McLeod.