Kevin A. Menicoche

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I rise also to commend Tony for his outstanding work as our Commissioner for the past five years. I’d like to acknowledge his commitment and his charismatic nature. I think when he first became Commissioner he actually came up to me and said there’s one place I haven’t been to yet and it was Trout Lake. He did make it to Trout Lake and he did get to see Joe Punch in that community and I’d like to thank you for that.

I like Tony’s story. It’s about a dream that not only youth have, but any youth listening, I can say that dreams still come true. Tony told me this...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. That is the kind of working with the communities that I like to see and continue on. When will the Minister or his department begin those consultations or community meetings with the different communities in my riding? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I am just looking for assurances that the work will get done this year. I know that we ran into weather issues last year and weren’t able to complete much of the reconstruction and very little of it, actually. I am looking for reassurances by the Minister that this work will be done early in the year and we don’t end up late into the fall season when there are weather issues. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided]

Mr. Speaker, this summer the Deh Cho Hall in Fort Simpson will be demolished. The building that dates back to the late 1950s has housed many different activities over the years.

The Deh Cho Hall was originally named the Lapointe Hall. It was part of the residential school system. Many Northerners were students at this facility. Until recently it was the home of the ECE support office and the Open Door Society. It also housed Aurora College, and several other local organizations benefited from that space. Most notably, I should add it...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Will the maximum rents be looked at at this time during the transition phase? Will there be any adjustments made to the amount that’s being charged as rent? Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, does the department anticipate any challenges for the tenants as the transfer back to the local housing organization? I know it took several months when we went to ECE. What kind of strategy or communications plan do they have to ensure that all the tenants do not fall off track and make the transition as seamless as possible? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I will be speaking about the return of the administration of the public housing rental subsidy to local housing organizations. Responsibility for the public housing rental subsidy was transferred to the Department of Education, Culture and Employment in 2006 in an attempt at a one-window service. Some program improvements were made in terms of accountability and fairness across the NWT, but residents of small communities did not see themselves better served. I’m very pleased that the responsibility for the public housing rental subsidy will be returned to the NWT...

Mr. Speaker, I think that when the program went to ECE there were additional resources given to ECE. Is there some similar plan to return extra resources to the Housing Corporation as to uptake the program once again? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today I spoke about return of the public housing rental subsidy to the local housing organizations. I would like to ask the Minister of Housing about the implementation date. I think there was June 1st. Is the target on track and will they be able to meet that implementation date? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]

In this month’s edition of The Native Journal there’s a news brief about investment of $7 million by DIAND in the Atlantic region. Almost half of this funding is being directed to water and wastewater projects in First Nation communities. Funded projects include water and sewer lot development, water and wastewater improvements, and water tank maintenance. All across Canada there are issues and challenges related to water and wastewater management. There are also problems in the Northwest Territories.

Presently the health...