Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. General comments. Next on the list I have Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Oh, just one second, Mr. Miltenberger. Our sound technician thought you were finished. So back to Mr. Miltenberger, please.

Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. Next I have Mr. Dolynny.

Okay, thank you. General comments. Okay, seeing no general comments...

---Laughter

Mr. Menicoche.

I’ll call committee back to order. We have agreed to consider Tabled Document 3-17(3), NWT Main Estimates 2012-2013. We have also agreed to begin with general comments. Although the Minister will not be bringing witnesses in at this moment, when they do arrive, does committee agree that the Minister could have witnesses and that the Sergeant-at-Arms could escort them into the Chamber when they arrive? Agreed?

I’d like to call Committee of the Whole to order. The only item we have before Committee of the Whole today is Tabled Document 3-17(3), NWT Main Estimates 2012-2013. I would like to ask what is the wish of the committee. Mr. Menicoche.

In terms of the feedback that did come back from the seniors, can the Minister please tell us if there was a categorical disapproval, or did this new policy review meet with categorical disagreement from the seniors, or was there also some widespread support for this?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation, the Honourable Robert C. McLeod. Since 1996 a policy came into place in this government where seniors living in public housing over the age of 60 would pay zero rent. I believe the initial intent of this was to target seniors in small, remote communities where people in the housing units had not ever been involved in the wage economy, had come more from a traditional economy, but in the government’s wisdom decided to apply it to every community and every senior living in public housing...

Thank you very much, Mr. Dolynny. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Minister Miltenberger, before you make your response, would you please introduce your witness for the record. Mr. Miltenberger.