Kevin A. Menicoche

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just returning to affordable and accessible housing, is the Premier aware that elders no longer have a housing program? Is he aware that people with low income are not eligible for housing programs? Where are they going to get this help, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the Premier for that answer. I don’t think, in this case, it is an issue of throwing more money at the Housing Corporation. I think this is the case of correcting a mistake that the government made. I think that government should look at this decision of centralizing income security programs, especially this when…

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Today, too, I would like to get straight to work and give government some of my thoughts that I received as I went on my campaign trail, Mr. Speaker, and one of them is the transfer of the housing subsidy to the Education, Culture and Employment department that occurred last term, Mr. Speaker. I believe that was a mistake to transfer this program. We had changed how we deliver housing to not delivering housing now, Mr. Speaker. Right now we have good, hard-working people who are now in arrears. Once it was affordable and bearable for them to make five or...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I respectfully disagree with the Premier. I do have elders and low income people not accessing the programs. I have one final point, Mr. Speaker. Can this government consider looking at changing the Housing Corporation from a business entity into a housing department which can better serve the public of the NWT? Mahsi cho.

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Mr. Speaker, I would like the Premier to state again his assurance that he will look at this issue.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to take this opportunity to just follow up on my Member’s statement, too, with regard to the government’s previous decision to turn the housing subsidy over to Education, Culture and Employment. I know that the government, in its infinite wisdom, thought that was one of the best ideas since sliced bread in the last Assembly to centralize services. But I know it is not working. I am sure they know it is not working. I have a friend back home who likes to play on words. They go from affordable and accessible to unaffordable and inaccessible programming...

Whereas Rule 85 requires that Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight. Thank you very much, Mr. Clerk.

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Mr. Speaker, I stand corrected.

Mr. Speaker…(English not provided)

Mr. Speaker, I’m very proud to be the choice for my riding, Nahendeh, once again, and I wish to thank my constituents for their confidence and giving me the honour and privilege of serving once again. There are many roles that we can serve in our Assembly, but above all we serve our constituents to make a difference to their lives and to make a difference to our communities.

Before I really get to work, Mr. Speaker, I want to use this time to be grateful. I would like to, first of all, thank my campaign team, my campaign manager back home in Fort Simpson...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Whereas Rule 85 requires that Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on accountability and Oversight.

Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Great Slave, that the following Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight…

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Mr. Speaker…

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…I did get rusty. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to deal with the motion I gave notice of earlier today. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker…(English not provided)…Mahsi cho.

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