Robert C. McLeod

Mr. Speaker, this is not a process that any LHO likes to be a part of. It is often the last straw when it comes to this particular process. I know from history, Mr. Speaker, that they are always willing to work with the tenants of the housing authority. At the same time, we need a commitment from the tenant that if there is a ruling, that they will abide by that ruling and work out a repayment plan, then Housing is usually pretty accepting of that.

It is a huge cost, obviously, if they have to put them up in a shelter or move them to shelter, but there is also a very huge cost in the amount of...

Mr. Speaker, Housing doesn’t choose the time of year when people are evicted. It is not something that Housing enjoys doing, but there is a process that has to be followed. Part of the process involves paying your rent or making arrangements to pay your rent, coming up with a payment plan. Usually they are pretty accepting of any tenant that wants to come forward and work out a payment plan and then they will have the opportunity to stay in their unit. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I would have to dig up the actual ruling, but my understanding is they would have to put in the ability to locate the cell phones. They would have to put that inability in or it is available. It doesn’t obligate them to install cell phone service throughout the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Elders Home Program was about one of 17 different programs that were offered by the NWT Housing Corporation and in order to streamline the process, every one of the initiatives that was offered at the time would still fit under one of the four Housing Choices that we have now. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, today I am pleased to provide Members with details on the 2010 Olympic Winter Games Torch Relay.

The ancient Olympic flame has been transported from its home in Greece and lit for the first time on Canadian soil since the winter of 1988 when the games were held in Calgary, Alberta.

It began its 45,000 kilometre Canadian journey in Victoria, British Columbia, and today makes its journey north to Inuvik, home to some of our greatest athletes and former Olympians.

On November 5th, the torch will arrive in Yellowknife from Nunavut. In keeping with time-honoured traditions, it will be...

Mr. Speaker, we will be pleased to provide the technical report. I have already outlined a bit of the process we will be going through with identification and doing an estimate of the work required on some of these roofs. If the clients qualify, they will be offered some financial assistance to repair the roofs. This initiative is actually going to be a priority repair for clients who apply for homeownership repair programs. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, we are well aware of the problem and the technical aspect as to why they had some issues with these roofs. Unlike other roof repair programs, the corporation has actually taken the lead in identifying some of the HAP houses with these roof problems. Thank you.

The Member is correct; there is an evaluation of the four Housing programs to see how they’re working and if there’s any adjustments that need to be made or recommendations, everyone will have a chance to have some input into the evaluation and see how it’s working at the regional and the local level. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There is the basic shelter policy that Housing is looking to update as we speak. They did have some work done on it and then we realized that we needed to make some adjustment for it to fit within the CMHC guidelines for the basic shelter. So that’s where the process is at right now and I will follow up on the Member’s question as to the status of the elders program and what became of that. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome two residents of Inuvik into the gallery. One is a constituent. I am not sure where the other one lives. I believe she is a constituent too. Mr. Richard Binder and Mardy Semmler. Welcome.