Tom Beaulieu

I thank the Minister for part of the response. I was looking to see if they actually have a physical long-term plan that Municipal and Community Affairs works out with municipalities. I’m asking the question: does the Minister have a long-term plan for the communities?

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Today I talked about municipal services infrastructure needs in small communities like Fort Resolution and Lutselk’e. I’d like to follow up with questions to the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Can the Minister tell us how the department allocates money to the communities during the budgeting process?

Will the Minister agree to have his department do a comprehensive evaluation of programs and services, the budgeting process and infrastructure needs in small communities?

Does the department have a long-term plan to improve standards in smaller communities during the budgeting process?

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to talk about municipal services and infrastructure needs in smaller communities like Fort Resolution and Lutselk’e.

Those of us in the larger centres enjoy many municipal conveniences that we take for granted. In smaller communities, like Fort Resolution and Lutselk’e, municipal services are limited. For example, in larger centres paved roads and concrete sidewalks make it easier to get around. In many small communities there is no pavement, no sidewalks. What there is, is mud and dust. With dust there come health concerns, especially for the elders...

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Today I talked about an issue that hits home with many single mothers and fathers: the Core Need Income Threshold and the issue of being eligible for public housing. Today I have questions for the Minister Responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation. I’d like to ask the Minister: how often is a thorough review of the Core Need Income Threshold completed by the NWT Housing Corporation?

[English translation not provided.]

Today I would like to talk about a situation that puts single parents at a disadvantage when it comes to accessing public housing.

Many of our constituents are single parents with young children, who are trying their best to earn a living and provide for their children. Unfortunately, many of these single-income earners are struggling to make ends meet. Some have families and friends to assist them, but many rely solely on government assistance.

One such program is the social housing program at the NWT Housing Corporation. Under the current policies individuals...

I have one more short comment on the Housing Corporation Mains. I notice that in the Infrastructure Acquisition Plan, which is part of the O&M inside the Mains, they have a fairly good-sized budget of over $38 million for this fiscal year, and then it drops off considerably, like in half. Again, I guess it's due to the fact that there would be no AHI funding coming in.

If this is the level of money that's needed in order to keep up to the core need issues across the Territories, I'm wondering if the corporation has any plan at all to somehow replace that money, aside from the motion that was...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That’s good. I’m glad that the Minister’s prepared to sit down with committee.

I would like to ask the Minister if he could commit to looking into creating some sort of special status for single mothers and fathers, in their need, to determine a different type of CNIT — Core Need Income Threshold — when the calculations are done. So if the Minister could commit to looking at some sort of special status for this group of people.

I’m interested in the Core Need Income Threshold for public housing. Did I hear correctly that the Minister said the numbers come from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, or is there other data that’s used to determine the Core Need Income Threshold?