Kevin A. Menicoche

Mr. Speaker. I have a written question for the Honourable David Krutko, Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation.

I there a long-term plan to address our aging populations in the regions and communities?

Are there plans to increase the number of independent living units that are available to elders and seniors?

Mahsi cho.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess another key component of constructing the houses is that there have to be adequate inspectors there, and that’s one of the things that occurred out of Fort Liard this summer. Repairs were happening, construction was happening, but the constituents are telling me they don’t see adequate inspectors coming to look at these homes to assure us and give us the confidence that the homes are being constructed and renovated to an acceptable standard. Just the presence of those inspectors alone will help the constituents there, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister inform me of...

Mr. Speaker, thank you very much. My question today is for the Minister of the Housing Corporation. One of the things that I’ve been addressing ever since I’ve been elected was in Fort Liard we had a huge mould problem and I was trying to get the government to come up with some kind of mould action plan. I was just wondering if the Minister can tell me to date what has occurred with respect to this. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to speak once again on the issue of housing in our communities; not about housing statistics or policies and programs, today I want to put a human face on housing. I want to tell you the story of one of my constituents and the situation she finds herself in. It is a personal story, one of an elderly person involving one household, but it is not unique. I am concerned that there are many such stories out there.

This particular woman received a house from the NWT Housing Corporation about 15 years ago. Until recently, she was very happy with the house. It was a healthy...

Madam Chair, I move that we report progress.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today, too, as well, to support the motion that’s before us, with regard to housing. Just with that alone, that’s one of our basic core needs: food, shelter and clothing. That’s fundamental to any existence anywhere in this world. I just want to speak to the fact that, upon being elected…It has almost been a year now and people warned me, they told me, they said, Kevin, the single most common concern that’s going to come before you, especially for Nahendeh, is housing. And it’s true. Over the course of the year, I can say that at least 50 percent of the concerns I’ve been...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was just wondering if the Minister can, for the record, tell me when the report will be completed. He mentioned it a couple of times during this question period, so I’ll be looking for an affirmed date of completion of that report and perhaps some costs associated with it. That would be of particular interest to myself and to the communities. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was just wondering if the Minister can assure at least the residents of Fort Liard that, yes, we are addressing the problem. I think environmental inspection is key, as well as -- I don’t know if I have the right Minister for this -- a lot of it is health. It’s becoming more and more of a health issue, Mr. Speaker. Perhaps the Minister can speak to whether that concern will be addressed, as well; like immediately. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, thank you.

---Applause

Mr. Chair, the committee wishes to consider Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 2004-2005. Thank you.