Michael Miltenberger

We have, as the one indication of the work we do with folks with disabilities, about 267 barrier-free units across the North. There are 51 in Yellowknife Housing Authority, for example. Then we start at the top with Aklavik; there are 14. I’d be happy to share this list with the Members if they wish.

I appreciate the Member’s concern, and what I will commit to is to get a listing of all the projects that are to be delivered this summer and over the course of this building season. If the Member would share with me the name of these two clients, I’ll make sure that update is provided to him as well.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’ll take the direction from Ms. Bisaro. The one issue that has come up that hasn’t yet been touched on is the internal audit function. I’ll just ask Mr. Polakoff to briefly explain the rationale.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have with me the president, Jeff Polakoff, and the vice-president, Jeff Anderson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is now the first part of June. The process should be well along. I take the Member’s point about the need to look at how we improve timeliness and completion rates. Clearly, we’re interested in working with the Regular Members as well as the communities to do that. We’re also fully engaged with the infrastructure committee as we look at how we improve the capital planning process and the capital delivery process which is not only for government but for the Housing Corporation as well.

We are looking at the issue of multi-built — where you have more than one unit built together to minimize your costs, to minimize your outside walls, to reduce your energy consumption. In some cases we’re also looking at the use of pellet stoves. One of the broader things we’re looking at is new construction. We’re not just going to build houses to old standards, but look at the R value, the types of windows, the types of doors, the types of entryways, so that you minimize heat loss and all those types of things.

We want to look at the types of heating systems we’re using and, in the broader...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am pleased to present the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation’s Main Estimates for the fiscal year 2008–2009, for the total contribution of $52.512 million. This is an increase of 2.3 per cent from the 2007–2008 Main Estimates.

Including other revenue sources the corporation will spend approximately $120 million on housing in the Northwest Territories this year. This funding includes contributions from the Government of Canada under the final year of the Northern Housing Trust. Through 2008–2009 the NWT Housing Corporation is planning a substantial housing...

The Member has raised a number of concerns in terms of housing policies, like with seniors and how that repair program is profiled. This is another issue. I’ll just make the commitment in the House that we’ll be willing and interested to sit down with committee to look at suggestions as we look at the broad policy review that’s underway currently in the Housing Corporation. As we move through this budget process, we will be moving right into the business planning process, so there’d be an opportunity to work with the committee to look at these very specific issues.

We were given targets, like other departments, and we had tough decisions to make. If we look at re-profiling or putting that money back, we’d be looking at trying to find where we could take it from, unless there’s new money made available. Given our financial circumstances, that’s not a very imminent reality or possibility. So if that recommendation is made, of course we will look at it to see how we can adjust or accommodate to the best of our ability.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d just like to speak briefly in favour of this motion. Across the land, in all the provinces and territories, the Legislatures in these jurisdictions are going to be passing motions of support to encourage the federal government to come to the table and look at extending the programs that are going to lapse, as well as help to negotiate a long-term housing strategy that will provide long-term sustainable funding.

Mr. Speaker, I’ve been the Minister of Health for five years, and I’ve been the Minister of Housing for the last eight. I’ve been to communities, and housing...