Debates of June 2, 2005 (day 7)

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, my questions will be for the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, the Honourable David Krutko. Madam Speaker, I am still concerned that there is zero transparency on this program and I’m not even sure I can quote any numbers because we don’t even know if they’re all correct. I’ve never been replied to with a new profile, a signed letter to say that they’re all correct. So, Madam Speaker, the point of transparency still stands. Will this Minister hear me when I say confidentiality is not an issue to be hiding behind, because if he goes out and breaks these details, it will have no effect in identifying an individual person? So the question to the Minister of Housing is will he go back to his department and get the information and commit to coming forward with the details I’ve asked as to the scenarios on that list he provided to me? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation, Mr. Krutko.

Return To Question 81-15(4): Greater Transparency On EDAP Program Details

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I’d just like to point out to the Member that he did request information through an oral question. I took it as notice. The information will be coming, but in the Member’s question I would just like to point out to the Member that the information that he is requesting is barred because it’s confidential information. We cannot start releasing information from somebody’s application and where someone has been approved for these programs and expect to have credibility in the process.

So I would just like to point out to the Member that a lot of the information that the Member is requesting is confidential information, which came through an application. A person got approved based on the information provided, they met the criteria of the program and they were able to get the program. So I would like to make it clear to the Member that the information that you are requesting is confidential information and we will not release confidential information. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Krutko. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 81-15(4): Greater Transparency On EDAP Program Details

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, asking for stats and information is not confidential when you don’t connect it to people’s names and when you have a pool of 14 people in a city as large as 20,000, it’s pretty tough to know who is who. On top of that, we don’t announce or publicize in any way the recipients of these grants. So we don’t say John Doe or Jane Doe received a grant. It’s very difficult to imagine how even to start to begin with how someone would connect a name with who potentially got this. So the bottom line is I think what’s being flaunted here is the word confidentiality and we’re going to hide behind it. Well I’m sorry, Madam Speaker, that is not good enough. We can provide that information. I sought legal advise in this question, which is we could provide it. So the question to the Minister is will he provide the information that I’ve asked for, which is people’s situation before they got this grant, such as were they in public housing or not, how big was the family; those types of scenarios. I have given him lots of questions. So to the point, will the Minister provide those types of answers that I’ve asked of him? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Minister Krutko.

Further Return To Question 81-15(4): Greater Transparency On EDAP Program Details

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I will provide the Member the information that’s appropriate to the question, but I will not provide information that is confidential. So I’d like to make that clear to the Member. The information that he will get is based on information that we can release, because we do have responsibilities through ATIPP legislation, which protects individuals' rights so that they know that their information will be held confidential. So I just want to point that out to the Member. I will get him the information that’s appropriate to his question, but I will not give him all the information appropriate to a person’s application. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Krutko. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 81-15(4): Greater Transparency On EDAP Program Details

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I will say thank you, Mr. Minister, for moving forward on that issue.

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Thank you, good Minister. Madam Speaker, would the Minister…I’m overwhelmed at this moment. He’s budged. Madam Speaker, the question I want to ask is would the Minister agree today to at his earliest convenience by next week, can he update this sort of Yellowknife information that I had requested in my written question of March 9th, which is asking the details on the Yellowknife recipients? So would he update the letter he had sent me under his signature that there was some typos in? Can he start with that? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Minister Krutko.

Further Return To Question 81-15(4): Greater Transparency On EDAP Program Details

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I will get the Member the information he requested through the questions he has raised in this House and the ones that I have taken as notice. I will get him that information, but I will make it clear to the Member that I will ensure that we follow the ATIPP legislation and ensure that we protect the confidentiality of our applicants and that we do not release any information that could jeopardize their privacy. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Krutko. Final brief supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 81-15(4): Greater Transparency On EDAP Program Details

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I’m sorry for those that had to read the Hansard because I was sort of lost due to being overwhelmed on getting that last one. So, Madam Speaker, my only question now to the Minister, which should be quite easy for him, is when can I get these responses? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Minister Krutko.

Further Return To Question 81-15(4): Greater Transparency On EDAP Program Details

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I will provide the Member the information when it comes available from my office to make sure that the list is accurate and we have the information. Timelines; we’re probably looking at next week or the week after. Thank you.

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