Robert C. McLeod

As with most changes that are made within the government where you start charging people money, there is going to be some concern and that concern was obviously raised and we hear it continue to be raised. What I was quite pleased about was the amount of support that it had from seniors across the Northwest Territories and I always use the particular example of a gentleman, a senior living in public housing, saying I only make $1,500 a month but I’m willing to pay my share.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We feel that we’ve had considerable consultation across the Northwest Territories on the whole shelter policy review. We had an opportunity to meet with NWT Seniors’ Society and received their input. We believe that this is an issue that has been consulted quite extensively across the Northwest Territories.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We look at it on an individual basis and see where the money would be best put. In Aklavik’s case, I know a couple of years ago they had used some money to fix up a lot of their roads in town. One of the things that we’ve just recently done during our meetings with other Ministers of emergency measures from across the country is Canada’s rolling out a Disaster Mitigation Program which would go towards mitigating situations such as the ones that we’re facing in Aklavik. If there’s an opportunity there to access some of the money – they’re still working out the details...

Again, Mr. Speaker, I say we will look at it on an individual basis and if there is a lot of flooding in some of the communities, we have to look at it on an individual basis and see where we can best assist the communities.

The communities themselves are well prepared to deal with a lot of emergencies that come their way. I think 29 of the communities have emergency plans put in place, so as far as the financial part of it, again, we’ll have to look at it on a case-by-case basis and see – going back to the Disaster Mitigation Program – how that rolls out as there may be opportunity for some...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased to recognize a constituent of mine and mayor of the Town of Inuvik, Mr. Denny Rodgers. Welcome.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document, titled “A Legacy for the North: Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Annual Report, 2008-2009.”

Mr. Speaker, this has been a discussion that has been going on for a number of years. Seniors have been very fortunate in the past where they have had to pay no rent. It is still costing the Housing Corporation an average $16,000 to $24,000 a year to maintain these units. The thinking behind it is during the engagement process there were a lot of seniors that had expressed a willingness and they don’t mind paying their fair share. There are some that were reluctant to phone for maintenance services because they don’t pay any rent. Some of this was brought on by the seniors themselves. The fact...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have approximately just over 700 seniors right now that are currently paying zero. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the 2012 Arctic Winter Games. This year the games are being held from March 4th to 10th in Whitehorse, Yukon.

Since 1970, the Arctic Winter Games have been bringing people from the circumpolar region together every two years for a celebration of sport and culture. We are proud to once again participate in this event.

This year more than 970 athletes from 26 communities tried out for Team NWT during the territorial trials. Of that number, 680 participants were from outside Yellowknife, confirming that there is broad interest and excitement for the Arctic...

Thank you. I can understand the Member. He’s listening, obviously, to his constituents, and we didn’t expect this to be a very popular move, but it’s one that we felt needed to be made. There will be some adjustments.