Robert C. McLeod

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We will be undertaking an evaluation of the programs in 2010-2011. We had originally intended on doing it this year, but we spent those resources making some adjustments to programs because of affordability issues. I have also directed the department that the evaluation used to identify gaps between programs and some recommended solutions for those gaps. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, the eviction of tenants from public housing is a long process and it usually takes a year by the time you get to the actual eviction itself. You’re given termination notices and tenants have the opportunity to speak to the LHO. If that fails, they have the opportunity to speak to the board. I’ve known cases where they’ve spoken to the board two or three times, or were given an opportunity to. All they’re asked to do is come up with a payment plan, as small as it is, as long as they show that they’re making some progress towards writing off their arrears, and the LHOs are more than...

Mr. Speaker, we’re working very closely, as far as public housing arrears go, with the LHOs to try and address some of their arrears issues and provide any input and help we can to them. As far as the mortgage arrears for homeownership, there’s been some good progress on those. We’ve had a lot of people who have refinanced and they’re making some excellent progress on the collection of mortgage arrears. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the Housing Corporation is working hard to address the needs of all communities across the Northwest Territories and all the Members. But I can advise the Member that I have provided direction to the Housing Corporation and we are taking very seriously the needs of a lot of the smaller communities and we will be working with the communities. When we have the results of the survey, I’ll look forward to sharing those results with Members and all interested stakeholders. From there, we can map out some direction for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. Thanks.

Mr. Speaker, we’re just in the process of finalizing our housing needs survey and that goes a long way in evaluating how our programs fit the specific target groups that were mentioned by the Member. If we need to adjust our programs and that, to meet some of the needs, this is our opportunity to do so. Thank you.

Thank you. I’d be pleased to join the Member and other Members from smaller communities in touring some of their operations and getting a feel for how the Housing Corp is running in their community and what best we can do to improve the services we provide to the clients. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The review is being done as we speak and we’re looking to see the results of this review. Of course, we are listening to the concerns of all the people out there with some of the issues they’re having with the transfer responsibilities. So the review is done. Once we see the review, we’ll have a look at it and plan a course of action from there. Thank you.

I’d be more than pleased and I do intend on visiting some of the smaller communities to hear a lot of their housing concerns and some of the challenges that they’ve been faced with, with the implementation of the assessment being moved over to ECE. But it is my intent in the next little while here, to meet with a lot of the smaller communities. Having worked in a smaller community in housing for 23 years, I’m well aware of some of the challenges that they face. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in May 2008 I announced to Members that Municipal and Community Affairs would be leading the work on capacity building initiatives at the local government level, in full partnership with the Department of Human Resources as well as the Northwest Territories Association of Communities and the Local Government Administrators of the Northwest Territories.

Today I would like to provide Members with an update on the details of this exciting initiative. However, before I do, I need to thank our key partners in public service capacity building: the NWT Association...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In February 2009 I spoke to Members about the challenges that community governments face as they assume increased authority and responsibility. The skills required to manage and govern a local community in the Northwest Territories have expanded significantly and many community governments are challenged to recruit and retain capable staff.

Capacity challenges are not just limited to small communities. All communities can face capacity challenges at some point and capacity is not static. A once stable, well functioning community can be challenged after a turnover of...