Michael Miltenberger

I appreciate the urgency of this issue as articulated by the Member, and I would just reiterate my commitment that this issue is already being dealt with. We have been in contact with the Housing Corporation, and we should quickly get this resolved without too much further ado.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m aware of the case that the Member’s referencing, and I have the same question. I’m in the process of following up with the Housing Corporation that leaving this Territory for two weeks should in no way impair a Northerner’s residency. So we’re in the process of sorting that one out.

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

Mr. Speaker, the housing challenges facing this Territory and this country are great. The challenges are further compounded by the uncertainties surrounding federal housing funding.

On March 31, 2009, all federal funding for homelessness and repair programs as well as for new construction is scheduled to sunset. This also includes the three housing trusts, including the Northern Housing Trust, which provided $50 million towards our three...

Mr. Speaker, I don’t think this is a reflection so much of the inability of regional suppliers, but on the attempt of the Housing Corporation to try to maximize the dollars they do have via the Affordable Housing Initiative. At this time, they are trying to do the repairs and improvements on the units they do have. So it was an issue of economies of scale, as opposed to a lack of capable Northern suppliers, when they were looking at supplying within their region.

Under the new Workers’ Compensation Acts that comes into force on April 1, the Workers’ Compensation Board name will change to the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC). This reflects the shift in philosophy to emphasize safety and prevention in addition to fair compensation for injured workers. Later today I will table the Workers’ Compensation Board’s “2008 Corporate Plan,” a document encapsulating the WCB’s enhanced direction.

The “2008 Corporate Plan” is proactive and sets the strategic direction for the coming year. It guides the organization to achieve its mission to promote...

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document, entitled Workers’ Compensation Board 2008 Corporate Plan.

Document 13-16(2), Workers’ Compensation Board 2008 Corporate Plan, tabled.

Mr. Speaker, the Housing Corporation is always interested in trying to be as efficient and effective and fair as possible. We’d be happy to discuss this issue with committees, to look at the numbers to make sure this is the best way possible. Are there other options? Right now it’s based on 11 commodities Territory-wide. If there’s a regional application base developed that is competitive, I’d certainly be prepared to look at that. I’d be more than happy to sit down with the appropriate committee to look at this.

Mr. Speaker, the rationale for the Housing Corporation was based on trying to obtain efficiencies, economies of scale, logistical and quality control, returns to maximize transportation corridors. Mainly, in their view, it was better support of Northern suppliers. But the key one was economies of scale.

Mr. Speaker, what I will commit to, as a first step, is to share the rationale and the math, in terms of economies of scale, that allowed the Housing Corporation to come to the decision to adopt this particular policy. I’ll share that with committee, and we’ll see what those numbers add up to in terms of how a regional application compares Territory-wide, based on commodities. Together we can see what that information tells us and discuss the best way to move forward.

What I will commit to is that through the energy coordinating committee we would be prepared to work with and report back to committee on the work that we’re going to do and the plans that we’re going to lay out to try to advance this initiative in a way that is going to allow full engagement at the community level, as well as with other governments, like the federal government. They need to buy into this process and hopefully put in some resources and lay out some of the steps we would have to take in terms of the infrastructure as well as whatever other legal requirements may be there to do...