Robert Villeneuve

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to state that the government is basing its decision on a cost basis and it is costing us quite a bit of money to send less than 10 patients to a southern institution, which I think the North could probably benefit from. I just want to ask the Minister if while these residents with disabilities are going to be relocated, will the Minister assure the families and the parents of these members, that they will be receiving daily if not weekly monitoring reports of the new institution and the redress of the patient care in Alberta due to the relocation and the...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, over the past couple of weeks, I have had the opportunity to meet with several Ministers to discuss various issues of concern to my constituency, Tu Nedhe, and to the residents of the Northwest Territories. During the course of these meetings with the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, the Minister of Health and Social Services, the Premier and the rest of the staff, I was assured that many of the valid concerns would be addressed in a timely and effective manner, although I realize that many issues cannot always be resolved...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First I just want to say hello to all the Members of this Assembly, to the people in the gallery and to all my constituents. It is a pleasure to return to Yellowknife to this Third Session of the 15th Legislative Assembly, and it is a welcoming sight to see all the Members returning to the session in good health. I sincerely hope that this remains the same in the future.

Mr. Speaker, since the last session in March 2004, many new developments have taken place, not only in the Tu Nedhe region, but also in the NWT and in Canada. With many new developments in the Tu...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I am not sure if he’s still here, but I would to recognize the chief of the Lutselk’e Dene Band, Chief Archie Catholique. He was here earlier, I don’t know if he’s behind me or what, but if he is, welcome.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will look forward to receiving some recommendations out of that review of the Nunavut rent scale because I think it works, and it takes a different approach and bases everything on the previous year’s taxable income of their clients.

Could the Minister instruct his department to come back within the next few months with some documentation on some well researched and consulted recommendation on changes to our current rent scale program? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation is on the hot seat, maybe we will just carry on with some questions on his portfolio.

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I wanted to ask the Minister, in light of the CMHC’s plans to eliminate all funding for public housing in Canada including the NWT by 2038, and that the conundrum of the NWT Housing Corporation is how are they going to raise their own revenue to retain the current level of public housing programs. One thing in the public housing program that has been a real crutch for the staff and the clients in public housing is...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for his commitment to doing some kind of departmental review. Has the Housing Corporation ever considered the approach that the Nunavut government has been taking on their outstanding rent receivables that they have considered in their new rent scale program? Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today, I want to acknowledge the tremendous contribution to literacy that the Lutselk’e Dene School Literacy Committee has achieved over the past year. Mr. Speaker, the Lutselk’e Dene School Literacy Committee comprises members which include Ms. Dawn Thompson, Miss Jenny English, Miss Doris Bruno, Miss Eleanor Young, and Mr. Geoff Bunckle. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my constituents, my colleagues and the people of the NWT, I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to these individuals who have volunteered their time in making a worthwhile difference for...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have to concur with the honourable Member to the point that there is definite need in the community. Just to get back to the accommodations set up in the community, I know that there are a lot of professionals that are all living in one unit. That is probably due to the fact that they are probably in a social housing unit, and with the rent scale they have in place one person in each unit can never afford the amount of rent. I wanted to ask the honourable Minister that when these professionals start moving out of the social housing units that were for social...

I am wondering what measures and contract obligations that these southern firms would have to ensure that these units will last at least two to five years, and that this portable housing will not have to be replaced by some more affordable housing in the short term. Mr. Speaker, thank you.

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