Michael Miltenberger

Mr. Chairman, from the actual physical–infrastructure point of view, the Housing Corporation collapsed 14 programs into four. Seniors’ home repair and such is now encapsulated within the broader CARE program. There have been some concerns raised that while we raise the amount of money that individual seniors may be eligible for, it’s more difficult to access. While we’ve made that change, we’ve committed to taking a look at that, along with committee. The aging in place also speaks to other issues across the department, things like home care support so that individuals who need some assistance...

I’ll get the name from the Member, and I’ll make sure that we get any information and make sure that they’ve received fair, full and due process.

Mr. Chairman, we have a small settlement homelessness fund that’s been in place for the last number of years as well. We stand ready to work with communities with whatever housing stock may be available, providing there is a group or some agency in the community that is prepared to play the lead in terms of dealing with the hard-to-house homelessness issue, where there are addiction issues and other social issues that are probably at play in terms of the lifestyle of the individual. We have the two approaches. The opportunity is there. It requires the community to step forward, either through...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the Member’s comments.

The issue and concern about the appeal process has been identified clearly by the Member as well as by the Office of the Auditor General. It’s been built into our framework for action. We’re planning on having a process ready that we can bring forward as we gather here in the fall.

Clearly, we have a number of other things to look at. Arrears, as the Member’s indicated, has been identified. We are doing an analysis of these arrears — some of them are quite dated — to take a look on a case-by-case basis to see how much, in fact, of that...

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Monday, June 2, 2008, I will move the following motion.

Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Nunakput, that the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories call on the federal government to extend the housing programs due to expire on March 31, 2009; and further, that the Legislative Assembly strongly urges the Government of Canada to commit to discussing a long-term funding strategy with the provinces and territories; and further, that a copy of this motion be sent to the House of Commons.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just want to make an observation. It’s interesting that a Yellowknife MLA — where the community’s getting a bypass road, dementia centre, École St. Joseph, a new clinic, Stanton upgrades, to a total of many tens of millions of dollars — is making a motion that in effect pits two small communities against each other and stands back to see what happens. Which is fine; we’ll of course live with the will of this Legislature. It’s just an interesting dynamic when all of us who live outside of the big centre will be turning on each other, while the territorial capital...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to provide the Legislative Assembly with an update on provincial and territorial activities currently being undertaken in the area of housing.

As Members may be aware, federal/provincial/ territorial discussions on housing nationally are focused in three areas. Firstly, provinces and territories have been aggressively emphasizing the need for Canada to reinstate the O&M funding that is declining under social housing agreements signed by most provinces and territories.

Secondly, Canada has also been asked to reinvest so-called legacy savings, surplus funds...

Mr. Speaker, there’s a distinction we have to make as we talk about the homeless. Or are we talking about individuals who may be hard to house? They are, I believe, in almost every community, including the one I come from. They have had every opportunity. Their families don’t want them staying in their houses. They have addictions issues. They have lifestyle issues. So if there is an issue of not enough houses for people, there are waiting lists for public housing.

We do struggle with the issue of hard-to-house, where they have often had programs, and they have often left the houses in...

Mr. Speaker, I can see a number of people from my constituency of Thebacha: Mr. Al Dumont, Mrs. Lynn Dumont, Paul McAdams, Loretta Laviolette, Marilyn Napier and Ethel Chalifoux. I’d like to welcome you to the Assembly.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take the opportunity today as the lead Minister to provide an update on the activities of the Refocusing Government Strategic Initiative Committee. The Refocusing Government initiative is one of five strategic initiatives that form the backbone of our government’s strategic plan. These five strategic initiatives have their foundation in the vision, goals and priorities we developed as a Caucus.

The actions planned under this initiative are to conduct program review, change the GNWT’s approach to infrastructure, improve human resource management in the Northwest...