Nahendeh

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 13)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am pleased to see some investment in our smaller communities in terms of three community learning centres. Costs are partially offset it says by the federal Knowledge Infrastructure Fund. Perhaps the Minister can correct me if I am wrong, but when they came up with these three projects, they had to kind of be spur of the moment. I think this is part of the Stimulus Fund from the federal government.

In terms of lack of facilities in the smaller communities, I have been speaking at length with regard to the library in Fort Simpson. I am just wondering if they are looking...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 13)

That is the kind of flexibility that we need with the NWT Housing Program. Fort Liard is a community of about 500 people. There is overcrowding. There are homes with about two or three families. They are waiting for these units. My issue is that a lot of people do have arrears, Mr. Speaker. Some of them are decades old, from some old programming, but it still remains on the books. I would like to ask the Minister, when they come across this issue, can they develop a strategy to address this so that we get people into houses and not let an old arrear bill be a hindrance to access our affordable...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 13)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation some questions in regard to my Member’s statement. I was speaking about that I am pleased that there is a nice, strong housing program in Fort Liard. The residents are very pleased to see all of these units coming up, but during my last visit, the concern was that, okay, we have lots of people in arrears. Have they got active clients for these new homeownership homes in Fort Liard? Thank you.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 13)

The Minister is absolutely right; there is ongoing work and some of the parameters around some of the stimulus funding has always been shovel ready, which means all the groundwork and all the costing and all the preplanning pretty much had to be done. I look forward to the work that’s going to go in putting a package together, at least assessment-wise, for the Fort Simpson library.

Just in terms of looking forward, will our government be accessing this fund next fiscal year? Thank you.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 13)

Does the Minister or does the NWT Housing Corporation have the ability to convert these homeownership houses over to public housing if there is an opportunity? Thank you.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 12)

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The Minister did indicate they just reviewed it in 2008. Do they have plans to review the income thresholds of this program any time soon? Perhaps this year? Thank you.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 12)

I’d like to thank the Minister for that answer there. It kind of details it a bit for myself and the public out there. I had raised this issue because there’s an elder in my community of Fort Simpson, as well as the other communities that I represent, Wrigley, Nahanni Butte, and I’m sure in other ridings as well, we have the issue where the elder or the senior is living at home and through no fault of their own they want their son or their daughter to live with them, but it’s household income that is, I believe, one of the determining factors.

So I’d like to ask the Minister, here we’ve got a...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 12)

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Most of our elders want to stay in their own homes as long as possible. In that way they can be independent and maintain their dignity. This is less expensive for the government than continuing care. It is not uncommon for the adult son or daughter of an elder to reside in a parent’s home. It is often a good solution, as the elder has someone checking on them every day and they can call upon their son or daughter in a crisis situation.

I have a constituent who lives in her own home and benefits from her son’s presence. Her personal income is basically old age...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 12)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is the conclusion of a process that began about a year ago with the Premier acknowledging that there certainly was an affair, and many Members...My colleagues were extremely concerned that there was an absolute appearance of conflict that launched this inquiry.

I am a strong believer in our institution. We went down that road there, Mr. Speaker. I think, for my constituents and my leadership, they have told me over the years and they, in fact, coming into this fall session, is that we’re not interested in the drama that’s happening there, we’re interested in...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 12)

Certainly there’s a whole range of different family living arrangements. Certainly those that can afford it, should afford it, Mr. Speaker, but I’m talking about cases where the elder or senior needs that caretaking ability and often it’s a son or a daughter. I’m asking, can we look at the Seniors’ Home Fuel Subsidy Program, can we re-evaluate some of the parameters and guidelines and look at an exemption for caretaker? I don’t know; government has to design it. So that’s what I’d like to see there. Thank you.