Debates of February 24, 2005 (day 43)

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. In the Northwest Territories today, we have social housing programs that are becoming social housing problems of enormous complexity. Mr. Speaker, we not only have issues that my colleagues have very eloquently outlined today facing us in their communities, but we have a very long-range problem in that the multi-year contract we have with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, which today feeds our coffers to the tune of some $33 million, is slowly, gradually disappearing, Mr. Speaker. According to the terms of the takeover we signed with CMHC, I believe it was eight years ago, it’s going to sunset. There will be nothing left of that after the year 2038, Mr. Speaker. This really spells disaster for many residents, especially those in smaller communities where there is such a heavy reliance on social housing.

Mr. Speaker, the 2004 housing needs survey by the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation tells us that of the 14,000 households in the NWT, about 2,100 of them are in need of repair; 1,400 of them are overcrowded; about another 1,500 say that affordability is their most significant problem. Mr. Speaker, given that the increases in population and changes in demographics are rapidly changing the face of the Northwest Territories and that we are losing our long-range multi-million dollar source of funding, how are we going to maintain public housing levels? Tens of millions of dollars are falling off our income sheet for the coming years, Mr. Speaker. We have yet to see a viable plan for ensuring that we will be able to continue to be able to afford a decent housing program for our people. Eight years ago we took on this responsibility, and I’m afraid we’re not doing a very good job of carrying it through. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause