Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I rise in full support of the motion that my colleagues are bringing forward with regard to having families in the communities I represent with the high cost of living and fixed income. The luxury we don’t have is private rental properties in the communities. We rely on the housing authority more than ever with the people that we represent. From 30 percent to 25 percent is a start. I look forward to the motion.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister adjust the economic rent system so that the rental public housing is affordable so people can go find some work? Mr. Speaker, I also heard the Minister earlier today speaking about the Beaufort-Delta and the economic rent scale in regard to the pilot project. If the Beaufort-Delta housing would be able to get on a pilot project for rental, the calculations for the economic rent, to drop that rent scale down, is it possible to do a pilot project like the Beaufort-Delta, in my communities that I represent? Is it possible? Thank you.

I just want to clarify what the Minister just said. The community of Sachs Harbour, the community corporation is looking for the backing for the four-plex that was offered last year to go to the bank to build the four-plex for professionals, and what I am asking for is for the NWT Housing Corporation to give me a four-plex for the community. That is what I am asking for. They are two different things and the community is only asking for the professional housing, the community corporation. I just wanted that clarified. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, when the Housing Corporation does its Housing Needs Survey, affordability is always a big problem across the Northwest Territories. Even here in Yellowknife. Mr. Speaker, I assume the Minister agrees that $3,000 a month for a three-bedroom unit is not affordable, unless you’re making a lot more money than most people in our small communities. So how is affordability taken into account in the economic rent? How is it set for this house in Sachs Harbour?

Could I ask the Minister if it’s possible to change the HELP unit to a four-plex? Because that HELP unit is not helping.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to welcome today Ms. Sadie Joss from Ulukhaktok, and Keith Dowling, the housing manager from Ulukhaktok. It’s not very often I have family in the House, too, so it’s good to see my housing manager from Tuk and also my cousin too. Thank you.

I’m up to two four-plexes now in the community of Sachs Harbour. It’s good.

Myself, I looked through the proposed acquisition plan. There’s nothing there for Sachs Harbour. That’s why I’m asking if we can get something put into the acquisition plan for the community. Not only that, there’s a HELP unit retrofit being done next year. I think something has to be done this year because the unit is needed in the community.

Just going back last year on the program for the professional housing unit, say for instance the community corp and any of the communities that wanted to take on professional housing for the people coming in, nurses, teachers, for a unit like that, is...

Can the Minister tell me that the residents of other communities all across the Territory, such as Paulatuk... I mean, we had the same issues over the last few years and once they did try to claim, they went so fast and persistent in giving the same service into the communities. Can the Minister tell me the residents of communities that are able to participate in this program?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last week I did a Member’s statement on the power disruption in Ulukhaktok and how people worked together to get through the problem. I heard on the radio last week, in Inuvik the power surge caused damage to people’s equipment, such as TVs, stereos, computers and other equipment.

There are probably not very many long-term Northerners who have not had equipment damaged in power surges, but you can only imagine my surprise when I heard the Power Corporation was paying compensation to the Inuvik residents for these damages. No one has ever made the offer to the residents...