Kevin A. Menicoche

[English translation not provided.]

Mr. Speaker, one of the biggest issues for my constituents in Jean Marie River and other small Deh Cho communities is that they cannot afford to become homeowners, even with the program the Government of the Northwest Territories has in place.

There are not a lot of economic opportunities in my region, making it difficult for people to take on the responsibility of home ownership. Even if they qualify for a mortgage, Mr. Speaker, it is often beyond their means when you factor in their other monthly costs like groceries, vehicle payments and other expenses.

As I...

Does the existing program take into account the remoteness of the smaller communities like Jean Marie? Is the income threshold lower, or is there more room for deduction, as it were, from the payment plan, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you very much. I think it sounds like the Minister took that question on notice there, Mr. Speaker. But just some of the further questions I’d be interested in are: what is the process to access this program; is there still funding available for this year, and if there is, can we access it as soon as we can?

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

Today I would like to express some concerns of my constituency about fair justice.

Mr. Speaker, we all know, unfortunately, that some of our young people get in trouble with the law. Some of those young people are first time offenders and fearful of the system. One of the biggest issues with encountering a new life situation, like trouble with the justice system, is that there may not be a clear understanding of the consequences of their behaviour.

Even though these young people may genuinely regret their actions and are...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to address my question to the Minister of MACA with regard to community preparedness.

I was recently in Nahanni Butte, and I had a couple of constituents ask about their firebreak. It hasn’t been worked on for some time. I’d just like to ask the Minister: does that program still exist?

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I, too, was looking for a commitment from the Minister. And the commitment would be just that if in the short term, in the immediate short term — October, November — they can look at getting an inspector out to the regions and communities.

I’m glad to hear that the Minister is responsive to the needs of the communities. As I said in my Member’s statement, on one hand, we’re encouraging the use of wood stoves and wood pellet stoves and alternative fuel energy, and on the other hand, we’re not making it easy by providing inspectors. People are actually at a great risk level, because there are no inspectors for their homes and they need insurance. House insurance is important for many, many different factors, Mr. Speaker.

Once again, it will fall under MACA, so I’d like the Minister to really have a good look at this. Can the...

[English translation not provided.]

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Many homeowners across the NWT heat their homes with wood or pellet stoves. This is something that the government is actively encouraging people to do in order to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.

Many homeowners in our smaller communities who burn wood or pellets are running into some problems. In order to get or renew their insurance on their homes, these wood burning appliances need to be inspected or certified. There is often no local or even regional person to inspect or certify these wood stoves.

A constituent of mine was told...

Mr. Speaker, I wish to report to the Assembly that the Standing Committee on Government Operations has reviewed Bill 14, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act; Bill 16, Write-off of Debts Act, 2008–2009; and Bill 17, Forgiveness of Debts Act, 2008–2009. I wish to report that Bills 14, 16 and 17 are now ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.

I’m sure glad that we’re going to take care of the long term need, but the needs that people can knock on my door and my office are for today.

I’d like to know if the Minister can look at doing some type of travel assistance to get these inspectors out to the communities, because their home insurance policies have now expired. It’s just not fair for them to individually pay $1,400 when government’s here and they can make some travel assistance to the inspectors, Mr. Speaker. Can the government look at that?