Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the offer from both Ministers to have a briefing. I think it is something that absolutely is necessary. It will certainly forestall the lack of feeling that we are being left out over here on this side of the House.
I wonder if I could ask the Minister how the response was filed without any input from Regular Members. What was the rationale for that? Thank you.
I guess there were a number of reasons. First and foremost is we were working under very tight timelines and if we didn’t file by February 11th we would have forgone the opportunity to appear before the different panel hearings. We didn’t want to be like the federal government where three federal departments that are intervening did not respond because they don’t support the pipeline. So as a responsible government, it was incumbent upon us.
We have to recognize that through NEB we are very limited in scope as to what we can respond on. We’re talking about the technical aspects with regard to construction of the pipeline and toll rates and development of the anchor fields. We can’t introduce any new material, so it’s quite restrictive. Also, it is still unclear as to how information would be handled because of the fact that there are three Members that are interveners and there is the Clerk and the legal lawyers working on what kind of process we can establish. That hasn’t been finalized as of yet.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are to the Minister of the Housing Corporation. Over the last number of months and years, actually years, I received a number of complaints and inquiries from constituents who have secured employment recently and already live in social housing units, or from constituents who have jobs and only recently managed to get a social housing unit. Many are single people just starting out, single parents or families with young children. The problem is that as soon as they get a job or those who have jobs move into social housing, they are assessed the maximum rent that the program follows.
My question is to the Minister of Housing. When we impose the rent increases for people living in social housing who manage to get a job, it may be counterproductive encouraging people to be self-reliant. Can the Minister tell this Assembly when he’ll release the rental review report and get some good discussions from Members on this side on how we’re going to deal with this issue?
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation, Mr. Robert McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are planning on undertaking a review of the rent scale. I’ve pointed that out before. We are looking to come to committee with the results. We are planning on having it ready for review by the end of this fiscal year.
I look forward to the review of the rent scale report by the end of this fiscal year. Will the Minister then look at if the discussion should come well within the committees and have some good discussions to look at this problem? Will he come forward with bringing it to Cabinet to implement what recommendations we have that will support families and single parents in small communities?
First of all I have to clarify. I said fiscal year, but it was the upcoming fiscal year and not the end of this particular fiscal year. So the 2010-2011 fiscal year. I apologize for that.
It is a concern that we have heard far and wide, is the rent people are being charged once they’ve gained employment. We always want to make sure that if we’re housing people, we try and work out the Homeownership Program so a lot of these people can graduate into the Homeownership Program. Housing tries very hard to make sure all the tenants are adequately housed and, with the review of the rent scale, we’re looking to make some improvements and listen to what we’ve been hearing from the Members in the Legislative Assembly.
Thank you for the clarification of the fiscal years. In saying that, that is quite a length of time between now and the years that the Minister quoted. I guess this is an issue that will be out there a bit. How do we deal with this issue? Because I think this issue is pressing. How do we look at issues that we can support families today who want to be productive people in their communities, yet at the same time this issue here of assessing the maximum rent when they’re still over their heads for them being contributors to the people in their communities?
We try very hard to make sure that all the people are adequately housed. There are 19 tenants across the Northwest Territories out of 2,400 public housing units that are paying maximum rent. That’s a good number. These are the folks we tried to design the Homeownership Program for so that they could graduate from public housing into home ownership. We’re making every attempt to make sure that we work with these people, because we hear the argument that sometimes the rent is too high and it’s a detriment to getting a job. We don’t want to be able to hear those arguments anymore.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.
Thank you. I wouldn’t mind having a list of these 19 people who are paying the maximum rent, because I’ve been hearing that as soon as they get a job in my riding, that the rent goes right up. It discourages people from working and to be in social housing. I know they want to be in these units and hopefully they can apply and be successful in these applications. I have a hard time in this. I’m here to say this is something that seems like it’s not taken very seriously by the departments here.
I’d like to know how we look at this issue. Can I get a list of the 19 tenants?
I’m not going to be able to provide the Member with the names of these 19 tenants. I can provide some of the regions that they’re in, but as far as names go with the information and everything, we have to be careful. We have to understand that maximum rent in the communities could be as high as $2,300, but that doesn’t mean that somebody who has a job is going to pay the $2,300. It’s based on the income that they’re making. I will commit to the Member that I’ll get him some information and sit down with him.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are to the Minister of ITI with regard to my Member’s statement yesterday and looking at the possibility of supporting the people in Haiti by providing them shelter. As I noted yesterday in my Member’s statement, there are over 160 tents in the canvas shop in Fort McPherson in inventory. This government committed $50,000 to Haiti, but I think the demand right now is shelter. As we can see from the pictures on television, these people are simply using tarps and tying them together for shelter. I think the latest statistics state that there’s over a million people without shelter.
I’d like to ask the Minister of ITI if he has had any discussions with External Affairs or the federal government or the Canadian Military on the possibility of taking these tents to Haiti to get them to the people who need them.
Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Bob McLeod.
I think that’s a great idea and we are always looking for a market for our products. I think that would be an excellent way to promote the tents and the products of the Northwest Territories. The main thing is it’s operating as a business, so we would have to find the money to pay for the tents. I think we would perhaps do that through a supp of some sort if we get the necessary support.
There’s been hundreds of millions of dollars raised through charity by people across Canada for which the federal government, I believe, matched $50 million. There is a lot of money in the system. My understanding is that only something like 35 percent of the money has actually made its way to Haiti. There’s some 65 percent still sitting and that hasn’t been expended. I think that’s the area we should be focusing on. So I’d like to ask the Minister, or even through this government, have we seriously made the offer to the country of Haiti through the Government of Canada or External Affairs for the Canadian Military to find a way to get these tents from Fort McPherson to Haiti, and at the end of the day, who’s going to pay for it? That’s another matter, but I think the key situation here is let’s get those tents to the people who need it. Thank you.
I guess the hardest part would be the logistics of getting 160 tents from Fort McPherson to Haiti. Right off the top of my head, I would expect we could probably do it on a backhaul from Inuvik or one of the trucks that are going back. I know that one of the local airlines, First Air, has provided a couple of their Hercs free of charge to assist in Haiti, so that’s one avenue. I guess another avenue is to get the military to fly it out of Inuvik. Those are some of the logistics that we would have to look at, Mr. Speaker.
I’d like to thank the Minister for that, because I think that’s the type of thinking and type of support we’re going to need from either non-governmental organizations, the private sector and do our part to get these tents to the people in Haiti. My issue is, we have to find a way of getting them there. I’d just like to ask the Minister, have you spoken to anyone in regard to the Prime Minister’s office or someone in Ottawa to see exactly how they can work with ourselves, as the Government of the Northwest Territories, to find a way to get these tents to the people in Haiti.
No, I have not had the opportunity to convey this information to anyone as of yet, but, certainly, I think it would be a good idea. I know these tents; people can live in the middle of winter under these tents, so it would certainly be helpful in Haiti. But this is something that we can get a hold of the responsible parties to try to make it happen.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Your final, short supplementary, Mr. Krutko.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this government spent $50,000 and donated to Haiti. Again, we could have probably purchased 50 tents which could have gone to Haiti already. But again, it’s up to us as government to find a way. I know that the Minister mentioned that they are possibly looking at a possible supp, but, again, I think that there are a lot of NGOs that have basically raised money across the country. So I’d like to suggest making contacts with those organizations, put them on notice that these tents are there and find a way that we can work with them to get them to the people of Haiti. I’d like to get a commitment from the Minister that he gets someone within his department to start getting the phones going so that we can make these contacts and get these tents to the people in Haiti.
Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Mr. McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don’t know if it would be somebody within my department, but I think that from within the government we can certainly look at the opportunities. Also, my understanding is the Prime Minister of Canada is in Haiti right now, so perhaps that would be another avenue whereby we get the Prime Minister to make an announcement and maybe they’ll pay for all the tents as well. I think there are a number of different ways we can approach this and I think that we’ll start looking at it right away. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday in my oral questions and Member’s statement I was talking about the two schools in Yellowknife Centre, one would be J.H. Sissons and the other would be Mildred Hall. In my questions to the Minister I was trying to raise the fact that with these schools there are several areas of renovations that need to be tackled and certainly addressed. The Minister, in his response, said that there was an educational review currently underway. I spoke to some of the officials over at YK No. 1 and they’re not aware of this educational review that’s going on at this time. They have not been approached by anyone at this time, and of course, their concern, as well, being is the fact that they own their buildings at this time.
So, Mr. Speaker, is the Minister able to update this House as to what is actually happening with this educational review and will they be contacting the Yellowknife Education District No. 1 here to discuss their educational needs? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in fact, my department met with YK No. 1 on November 26, 2009, to provide an overview of the updates on the Yellowknife Education District No. 1 facilities. So there has been a meeting and now, based out of that, there has been a request, not necessarily from them but the three school boards that we deal with, on a request for an educational overview for the Yellowknife riding.
So, Mr. Speaker, based on that, there is a review of the 10-year education facility plan that’s currently underway. It’s based on looking at the impact of the enrolment data from the past four years and possible future direction on space planning. So that review should be completed by spring 2010. Mahsi.
Mr. Speaker, in discussing this matter with the chair of the YK No. 1 board, they seem to feel strongly that no one has approached them from the educational review as far as their facilities are concerned. Mr. Speaker, in essence, I’m not trying to create a problem here. I just want to make sure that the educational review facility team actually does get in contact with the YK No. 1 board and does a full, fair and honest assessment of those two facilities I highlighted. Will that happen? Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, there has been a meeting already in November 2009, and, yes, we can come back to the YK No. 1 school board again to give them an update of what’s happening and why we’re doing an educational review. So, Mr. Speaker, there is a consult underway reviewing the schools across the Yellowknife area. It’s in the works, but I would commit to the Member that there can be a discussion from our department again, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The time for question has expired; however, I will allow the Member a supplementary question. Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister keeps pointing that they talked to them, and that’s right. I mean, YK No. 1 talks to the deputy minister of Education all the time. And as a matter of fact, I bet they talk about schools and educational programs and infrastructure all the time. So, Mr. Speaker, that’s a fair observation, but we’re really coming down to the nuts and bolts of this, which is the consult and the report and the plan. So ultimately, I want to make sure that they get in contact with the YK No. 1 school board. That’s all I’m asking. That’s all that needs to be done, and I want to make sure it’s done in a timely way that that information can be fairly brought into the equation and consideration when we’re looking at updates. Would the Minister make sure that this consultant who’s doing this review engages the YK No. 1 board in a timely way so that their schools are considered fairly? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that is part of the consultation. That’s why we hire a consultant to have an overall review with the school boards in Yellowknife. I’m not sure if I’m getting a clear message to the Member that we’re in the process of reviewing the schools in the Yellowknife area and, certainly, the consultant will be in touch with the school boards to identify what’s required, what’s needed. That’s why it’s called a school review. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Your final supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’m not sure the Minister is getting my point. The fact is, he’s saying that there’s a review going on and I’ve got a school board that says they haven’t heard from the reviewer. So that’s the only issue at hand here, Mr. Speaker, is the fact that I need to be assured, this House needs to be assured, there needs to be a clear message from the Minister of Education that the consultant will be instructed to make sure that they consult with YK No. 1 in a timely way to make sure their schools that are in desperate need of renovations are considered in this evaluation. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, again, the consultant will gather all the facts from the school boards, so I’m sure there will be a consultation happening with the school board. Mr. Speaker, Yellowknife education facility is under review and it will be completed in the spring of 2010 and, yes, there is consultation happening with the school boards. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document titled Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission 2009-2011 Corporate Plan. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table a letter from Lawson Lundell to the National Energy Board dated February 11, 2010, titled Mackenzie Gas Project Hearing Order GH-1-2004 Government of the Northwest Territories Response to the Recommendations in the JRP Report.
I also wish to table my letter to the acting secretary of the National Energy Board requesting termination of intervener status for myself. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Thursday, February 18, 2010, I will move the following motion: now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Nahendeh, that the appointments to standing committees of the following Members be revoked: Mrs. Jane Groenewegen, Member for Hay River South, to the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure; Mrs. Jane Groenewegen, Member for Hay River South, to the Standing Committee on Government Operations; Mr. David Krutko, Member for Mackenzie Delta, to the Standing Committee on Social Programs; Mr. Jackie Jacobson, Member for Nunakput, as an alternate Member to the Standing Committee on Government Operations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
