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...

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?

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?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, numerically they are factored in, but the nature of these costs is not. That is to say, child care expenses would be considered the same as a car payment.

Of course, costs like these represent two completely different circumstances with varying degrees of need. As such, more often than not the applicant’s true discretionary income is not really captured, so a single parent’s eligibility many times falls just over the predetermined Core Need Income Threshold, and they become ineligible for public housing. This is happening all too often to single people who are...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just general comments on the Housing Corporation from what I have dealt with over the past nine months or so since our election.

To date, about 80 per cent of all of the concerns from communities in Tu Nedhe have been on housing. The majority of those concerns have been on seniors’ housing and home ownership. I look at this as a serious problem. I see it as a problem that started with the fact that the NWT Housing Corporation changed completely. They changed their focus on housing without completing a needs survey. The needs survey is essentially a tool that allows you to...

Can the Minister advise if the NWT Housing Corporation would look at a different way of determining Core Need Income Threshold? I can’t see how they could capture all community-assisted expenses if they’re using the Core Need Income Threshold handed down from the federal government.

Can the Minister advise if at some point the corporation would look at having all expenses to determine that core need income be community-specific?

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?