Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the recent announcement regarding the Government of the Northwest Territories intent to transfer various administrative responsibilities back to the community housing authorities is long overdue, Mr. Speaker. For years, the community governments and Members of the Legislative Assembly have been urging the government to transfer these responsibilities to the local government.
However, during the transitional implementation period, the government must seriously review the important issues that impact how effective these transfers will be.
Firstly, the government must recognize the true cost of operations in the North, especially small and remote communities and provide necessary resources so local housing authorities can adequately provide administration. They should not view this as an opportunity to save money and to cut costs, Mr. Speaker. This government should provide equal resources at a minimum, that they would allocate to the community office of the GNWT staff. Any less would be unfair.
Secondly, this government must not transfer only problematic administrative responsibilities, they must transfer a complement of compatible administration. This would not only ensure efficiency, but would provide enough capacity and resources for local housing authorities to coordinate various responsibilities in a progressive manner.
This government says they are committed to community capacity building. This government has to start fulfilling these promises made earlier. Other Nunakput communities… Government administrative services at the community level would start making a dent in the problem. Each community must be given the money, resources and commitment needed to fulfil the roles that they have been assigned to do. Without that, we’re setting them up to fail. Mr. Speaker.
Housing is a core responsibility of this government, such as water, health, education and protective services; however, developments in government seem to contradict the principle.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted.
Mr. Speaker, this government must get serious and tackle these real issues with real solutions. Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation at the appropriate time. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.
