Kevin A. Menicoche

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Once again, I would like to go back to see where the department stands on reverting the Village of Fort Simpson back to a hamlet. Recently I was made aware that Fort Simpson will not have the financial capabilities in 10 years to at least increase their tax assessment roll. This growth won’t be a factor. I would like to ask the Minister is it his department resisting changing the Village of Fort Simpson to a hamlet? Thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will be looking for a short answer from the Minister of MACA.

---Laughter

The song I sang in my Member’s statement from Sesame Street, Mr. Speaker, is very old, and it is as old as the issue of hamlet versus village in Fort Simpson. I would just like to ask the Minister of MACA, what is his position on where Fort Simpson belongs in terms of its municipal status with regard to hamlets, or does he see it belonging with the tax-based communities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize His Worship, the honourable Raymond Michaud, mayor of Fort Simpson. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe I know where the flaw in the formula is. It is the line that says village or hamlet, Mr. Speaker. I understand that current legislation does not include a process for cities, towns and villages to change their status to hamlet. Would the Minister be prepared to introduce a bill in this sitting that would amend the legislation to allow Fort Simpson to become a hamlet? Mahsi cho.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What is happening is that the honourable Member for Great Slave was talking about formula financing, and that is some of the similar arrangements that our government has with the communities. What has been happening is that it has been reduced quite drastically from $1.4 million in 2002 to where it is today. I think we are running at $800,000, and the village cannot run with those drastic cuts in a skeleton budget. I am just wondering how the Minister sees the village capitalizing on the new one-third/one-third/one-third financing deal that is so good for the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (English not provided)

Mr. Speaker, there is a song from Sesame Street that goes, “One of these things is not like the others. One of these things just doesn’t belong."

---Laughter

It’s a simple but sensible approach, Mr. Speaker; one I hope the Minister of MACA will take in looking at Fort Simpson’s long-standing request to go back to hamlet status. I think it would become clear to the Minister that the time has come to admit that Fort Simpson just doesn’t belong within the tax-based municipalities.

The value of property in Fort Simpson is about $40 million; the next...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am in agreement with the Minister, but it’s in terms of percentages. I am proposing to the Minister today let’s phase it up from 60 percent to 75 percent of the rent scale and then we both agree at the same time, as well, Mr. Speaker, that it’s 100 percent for the second year. It’s just the first year of how we are getting there. I am proposing it to be at 75 percent because what we are having here is we are going to create a sector of people who aren’t in arrears and getting them into arrears and further complicating their opportunity to get a house when it’s their...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement I spoke about the reinstatement of the rent scale increases and who it affects, Mr. Speaker. It affects the non-government workers in my riding who work hard and pay their bills on time and who are comfortable with the current rent scale because it hasn’t been changed since 1995, Mr. Speaker. Now this 30 percent increase from the 60 percent level to the 90 percent level means at least a $300 increase to their current expenditures, Mr. Speaker. I would like to know from the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Speaker, what is...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It seems ludicrous that the government won’t be flexible on this at all. There will be a surprise if the client were to say you aren’t going to increase it to 90 percent on the scale, but reduce it to 75 because a notice did go out. I think the government can be flexible and they can say yes, you got the notice but, on second thought, we are just going to do the 75 percent for this year because we are still doing 100 percent for 2006-07, Mr. Speaker. I think this is short notice and expecting people to pay higher rents, purchase their homes and/or pay off all their...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don’t think I am against the implementation plan, Mr. Speaker. I am in favour that we will have to charge our tenants at the 100 percent mark, but I believe that we can graduate this plan because it’s been so long and going immediately to the 90 percent mark is far beyond what even four or five tenants can handle in Fort Simpson, Mr. Speaker.

Even so, we are forcing our tenants' hands. I don’t think they have a choice where they can go, Mr. Speaker. They don’t have anyplace else to go as an alternative. I would like the Minister to recognize that and at least...