Debates of August 16, 2007 (day 11)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on the issues I was advocating many years ago was about the disabled barrier for disabled housing unit, and Minister Krutko, at the time when he was Housing Minister, initiated the project and just recently, in the spring, the new Minister of Housing, Minister Handley, had helped cut the ribbon in this facility. But, Mr. Speaker, the spring is long since past. We are bulldozing almost into the fall here and winter will be long gone. When will this facility be open? My direct question to the Minister of Housing is, when will this brand new barrier-free apartment building be open, Mr. Speaker? We cut the ceremony ribbon four or five months ago. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister responsible for Housing, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 137-15(6): Status Of Barrier-Free Housing Project

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, there have been some delays since the ribbon cutting. Some inspections had to be completed. The units had to be furnished. That is pretty much behind us now. Applications have been taken. I understand those applications are currently being reviewed and there should be a decision on who gets to move into that unit very quickly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 137-15(6): Status Of Barrier-Free Housing Project

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I haven’t asked him this week, but it was just over a week ago they still didn’t even have the building in their possession to be screening applications. So is the Minister really sure that the building is in their possession so they can be screening applications in order to allow people to move into this barrier-free building that was designed for seniors and people with disabilities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 137-15(6): Status Of Barrier-Free Housing Project

Mr. Speaker, I can’t say that I am really sure, really.

---Laughter

But my information is that they are reviewing the applications now. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 137-15(6): Status Of Barrier-Free Housing Project

Mr. Speaker, this would be a great project to tuck under the belt of this Premier walking out the door and saying we accomplished some good stuff in the term of this Assembly. So, Mr. Speaker, will the Premier say today he will make sure this building is in the hands of the Yellowknife Housing Authority by the end of next week so we can get people into that building like we told them we would six months ago when we cut the ribbon in early March or in that period? Will he commit to doing that to make sure we start having people move into adequate housing? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 137-15(6): Status Of Barrier-Free Housing Project

Mr. Speaker, there are only so many good things I can tuck under my belt.

---Laughter

I will certainly endeavour to make this one of them. The original schedule was to have people move into this unit in October of this year. We are working towards that. In fact, Mr. Speaker, I would say we are ahead of schedule on this one, so I am quite proud of it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Final supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 137-15(6): Status Of Barrier-Free Housing Project

Mr. Speaker, I wasn’t going to bother with the last question, but because of the Minister’s fine answer about we are ahead of schedule, well, maybe the Minister should revisit his briefing notes on this because it was supposed to open a year ago because it was planned to open and finish in October of last year. So maybe instead of his notes saying 2007, it actually says 2006. So the fact is the building is almost a year late from when it was originally supposed to open. People who are in this need said, well, it’s okay; we can wait. Well, March rolled around four or five months later and now four or five months later it is almost September. So when will this building open, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 137-15(6): Status Of Barrier-Free Housing Project

Mr. Speaker, the building will open as soon as the applications are reviewed and selections are made of who will go into that unit. I expect that to happen very quickly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.