Robert Hawkins

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to return to Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery.

Unanimous consent granted.

Has the Department of Housing considered giving it to Aurora College as an asset for them so they can include it in their programming as opposed to just giving it away to an organization?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ll have questions to the Minister of Housing. My questions are about the subject of the Sambaa K’e Healing Lodge.

Mr. Speaker, I’ve been informed recently that a deal has been reached with another organization to turn this into a training centre. I’m just trying to get some sense as to what’s actually happening, who will be responsible for the cost of that and who will be the benefactors.

Can the Minister of the NWT Housing Corp tell me exactly who is in control of this now? Are they paying for the full cost of running this facility? Who owns the facility?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, whomever.

Mr. Speaker, the issue really is: can the Minister tell me how he plans to get out there and get that feedback? He did say his department is monitoring the situation, but how is he getting out there to get feedback from the general citizenship of the Northwest Territories?

I actually didn’t hear the answer. I was trying to listen very carefully. Would the Minister be willing to get out there and call for a public dialogue on these issues to make sure that we’re hearing the needs of our citizens out there and absolutely making sure we’re meeting the basic needs of our citizens?

How much money is housed in that CARE program?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. From my spot I don’t know if they’re still up there, but I certainly would like to make recognition of Cecily Hewitt and Bill Burles, both constituents of mine. When I came in earlier, they were both in the gallery. I certainly hope they’re still there.

I appreciate the president’s point of view. He and I probably agree very closely on this matter. In some cases accessible living just means you have a unit to access on the main floor. It means you don’t have to go upstairs. Accessible living could mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people. I would agree further that not everyone needs the full-blown fit up.

But, Mr. Chairman, I think the housing pool is a little thin out there — I can’t speak for the territorial communities, but I can certainly speak for Yellowknife community — and that’s presenting a challenge.

To elaborate...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just would like some overview on the Minister’s thoughts. I noticed some of the opening comments seemed to be missing some highlights where disabilities were concerned, from my point of view.

I have a number of constituents. From time to time they come forward, and they discuss the issue of housing, accessible housing, and the sense of what stock exists there. I’ve got constituents who just don’t have anywhere else to go. They’re waiting for opportunities that don’t exist.

I’m just curious what the Minister is doing about the situation, in light that it’s pretty thin...

Mr. Speaker, I thank Members for not naying that, of course. I just want to make special mention of Daryl Dolynny. He’s up there in the gallery. He’s the owner of Shoppers. He’s presently the Chair of the Yellowknife Community Foundation. I think he’s the past president of Stanton Foundation. He’s here today to watch the Pharmacy Act get through first reading. He says if it’s not done by 4 p.m., he has to sneak off to be a swim coach today. So he’s many things to Yellowknife. He’s an important guy.