Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to follow up on the Housing Minister’s statement on the Shelter Policy review and public housing rental assessment rates.
On November 3rd last year, this Assembly called on the government to reduce the maximum rate for assessment of public housing rents from 30 to 25 percent of gross income. Yukon charges 25 percent of gross income and Nunavut has a sliding scale between 10 and 28 percent. As an example, public housing for a four-person household living on two minimum wage incomes in Detah pay $1,200 per month at 30 percent, or about 40 percent of net income, leaving them about $2,000 after taxes to meet all other monthly expenses. Even a 5 percent reduction would put $200 back in that family’s pocket as food, clothing, the ability to buy hockey gear or Christmas presents.
This Assembly has identified housing as a top priority. The Minister’s statement last week reported that rent scale adjustment is one of the issues under consideration in the Shelter Policy review. That’s good news and I’m going to be looking for downward movement on the maximum rate to at least 25 percent or even 20 percent, in line with our neighbours.
The Minister also spoke of the moratorium on evictions for non-payment of rental arrears and provided Members with information on the $8 million in outstanding rents owed by 3,500 tenants. One lesson here is that while there are some who don’t pay rent and should be made to, there are many for whom the 30 percent rate is just too high.
We have all heard the cases of people who are better off not working than taking two minimum wage jobs and seeing their rents skyrocket from $32 to more than $1,000. In communities where almost no one can own or privately rent a home, we have to recognize that access to housing is a public need no less critical than health care. We need a rent scale regime that is a sensitive mix of cost recovery, incentive to work and meeting the critical need for adequate, affordable and accessible housing.
I’ll be asking the Minister questions on his new plans for development of just such a system. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Member for Hay River North, Mr. Bouchard.
MEMBER’S STATEMENT ON
VISIT OF THE GOVERNOR GENERAL OF CANADA TO HAY RIVER
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I proudly rise to thank the community of Hay River for hosting the Honourable Governor General of Canada, Mr. David Johnston, and his wife. They were able to experience the great culture by visiting K’atlodeeche, and were able to visit with the leaders there and dance at the local community feast. They also had the opportunity to take a dogsled team ride with Mr. Danny Beck from Hay River.
The second day they were able to take a ride on the Great Slave Lake with a bombardier with one of our local fishers, Shawn Buckley, where they were able to pull a net and see the fishing industry in Hay River.
The couple then got to visit our Nordic facility in Hay River, where they were able to take themselves for a little ski as well as see the Arctic Winter Games trials for biathlon. Then the town hosted a meet and greet, where they were able to see some great performers, some youth, and receive a few gifts from the community. The Governor General also assisted with the promotion and revealing of a new sign for Brendan Green, Hay River’s own Olympian.
So I would like to thank all the organizers of the Governor General’s visit to Hay River. Thank you very much.
Thank you, Mr. Bouchard. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Nadli.
