Statements in Debates
I didn't hear any timing around that, but I heard some process responses. As we come to the end of this Assembly, my question for the Minister is whether any of the public housing waiting lists are shorter now than they were three years ago and whether, over these last four years, there has been any increase in the uptake in home ownership?
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my reflections on the housing summit hosted by the NWT Housing Corporation in Inuvik last month. I appreciate the invitation to attend.
The summit confirmed several key points, most of which were long known.
First, there is a shortage of social housing in most communities. The waiting lists are long, especially for single people, and they may spend years waiting for a place to live. The Housing Corporation is unable to keep up with the demand.
Second, there are some significant barriers to attracting tenants...
I recognize that insurance rates are set by the insurance industry, but one possibility that I would like to bring to the Minister's attention is a self-insurance scheme, where the insurance is provided by the Government of the Northwest Territories to the homeowners so that it is more affordable to them and it meets the goal of moving people who can afford to get out of public housing out of public housing.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a few more questions for the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation. I was interested to hear him tell my colleague, Mr. Beaulieu, that the Housing Corporation had divested of 183 units in the last three years. Could the Minister tell us, even in general terms, how many of those units were sold to homeowners and how many of them were demolished? Thank you.
A previous plan called Toward Level Ground set targets for the Housing Corporation to assist people with housing issues. The goal was to help 1,077 households and spend $67 million. This plan is now in year three of three. Can the Minister tell us whether this plan is going to meet those goals?
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation. Let's start with the plan for spending the new National Housing Strategy money. When will that plan be available to the public? Thank you.
Mr. Chair, I move that this Assembly recommends that an exit strategy for Members of the legislative Assembly be developed and implemented as a resource for all who are leaving politics.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just ask my colleagues to bear with me. This is one of these motions which builds on the one before. I move that this Assembly recommends that the current amounts be set at the maximum reimbursable annual amount (allowance for expenses is $7,484 in Yellowknife; $14,968 outside of Yellowknife, and $1,500 entertainment allowance for the Speaker and Ministers). Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, this is the moment I have been waiting for. I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Great Slave, that, notwithstanding Rule 4, when this House adjourns on March 14, 2019, it shall be adjourned until Thursday, May 23, 2019;
AND FURTHER, that, at any time prior to May 23, 2019, if the Speaker is satisfied after consultation with the Executive Council and Members of the Legislative Assembly that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during the adjournment, the Speaker may give notice and thereupon the House shall meet at the time stated in...
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this Assembly recommends that the current non-taxable allowances (allowance for expenses and entertainment allowance) become accountable allowances.