Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
WHEREAS quality and affordable housing promotes health, social and economic well-being of people and communities;
AND WHEREAS the Government of Canada has been a vital funding partner in the development of affordable housing in all 13 provinces and territories;
AND WHEREAS CMHC Operating and Maintenance funding for social housing is currently declining and will lapse completely by 2038;
AND WHEREAS the Government of Canada has not committed to making additional capital investments in affordable housing in the future;
AND WHEREAS 1.5 million Canadian households continue to be in core housing need;
AND WHEREAS core housing need in Canada’s North continues to be above the national rate of need;
AND WHEREAS funding for the three Federal Housing Trusts, including the Northern Housing Trust, is set to sunset on March 31, 2009;
AND WHEREAS funding for the Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program and Homelessness Partnering Initiative are also scheduled to sunset on March 31, 2009;
AND WHEREAS the federal government has yet to commit to funding a third phase of the Affordable Housing Initiative after March 31, 2009;
AND WHEREAS provinces and territories unanimously agreed to a set of principles that outline roles and responsibilities for the delivery of housing to Canadians;
and further, that the Legislative Assembly, strongly urges the Government of Canada to commit to discussing a long-term funding strategy with the provinces and territories;
AND FURTHER, that a copy of this motion be sent to the House of Commons.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion. The Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Miltenberger.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d just like to speak briefly in favour of this motion. Across the land, in all the provinces and territories, the Legislatures in these jurisdictions are going to be passing motions of support to encourage the federal government to come to the table and look at extending the programs that are going to lapse, as well as help to negotiate a long-term housing strategy that will provide long-term sustainable funding.
Mr. Speaker, I’ve been the Minister of Health for five years, and I’ve been the Minister of Housing for the last eight. I’ve been to communities, and housing is probably the most critical issue that comes to people’s minds when they see government people. It outranks even health in terms of its urgency. It’s an important issue. We know that there’s not enough money; there are far more needs than there are resources.
This motion will be a signal that the Northwest Territories Legislature supports the initiative of all the other provinces and territories to try to get the federal government to engage with us so that we can stop the loss of funding, get some certainty and get enough resources so that we can plan for the long-term future of all the citizens we represent.
To the motion. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think that was well said, and I don’t think the motion could have been written any better. There’s only one aspect that I’d like to highlight, which is housing for the disabled. It’s a concern and a passion of mine to make sure that we have appropriate housing for those in need. Although this motion doesn’t speak to it specifically, we know that this funding goes to help people in that area.
It’s a principle I really believe in, Mr. Speaker. In the past I’ve had the chance to work with Mr. Krutko, when he was Housing Minister, to help bring better living, a better quality of life to people with disabilities. At that time I was very thankful and grateful that we were able to move forward on that initiative.
Mr. Speaker, I’m just going to close by saying that housing for everyone is fundamental. It’s a basic principle we all know we need — safe and secure housing, especially appropriate housing — and we can’t forget about that group known as the group of disabled folks, because their well-being is important to me, and I know it’s important to this Legislature as well.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. To the motion. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I, too, shall be voting in favour of this motion. It is very timely. I’ve got the riding with the most communities, and we’re having many housing issues. One of them is access to funding and different types of funding arrangements. Right now we’re really, really limited, and the pool of funds is getting smaller. It limits the types of actions that we can have in the community, especially when it comes to federal assistance, as they do it to all our reserves down south and the other jurisdictions.
When it comes to the North, there’s always a barrier in terms of providing adequate aboriginal housing and First Nations housing. I believe this is one of the ways that our government can work toward that. I’d like to applaud the Minister for moving this motion forward. It’s actions like this that we’ve got to get knocking on the doors in Ottawa and let them know that our needs are real. They must heed up and listen to us. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. To the motion.
Question.
The question is being called. The honourable Minister Responsible for Housing, Mr. Miltenberger.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d just like, for maximum effect, to ask for a recorded vote so that when we send this motion to Ottawa, it’s very clear that this Legislature has spoken.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The Member has asked for a recorded vote. All those in favour of the motion, please stand.
Mr. Miltenberger, Mr. Roland, Mr. Michael McLeod, Mr. Yakeleya, Mr. Bob McLeod, Mr. Krutko, Mr. Bromley, Mr. Abernethy, Mr. Menicoche, Mr. Ramsay, Mrs. Groenewegen, Mr. Robert McLeod, Mr. Hawkins, Mr. Jacobson, Mr. Beaulieu, Ms. Bisaro, Mr. Lafferty, Ms. Lee.
All those opposed to the motion, please stand. All those abstaining, please stand.
Results of the motion: 18 for, zero against, zero abstaining.
Motion carried.
Item 18, first reading of bills. Item 19, second reading of bills. Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters with Bill 8, Tabled Document 37-16(2), Committee Report 6-16(2), Committee Report 7-16(2), with Mr. Krutko in the Chair.
