Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m going to ask questions to the Minister of Justice regarding residential and tenancy issues. I’m not going to get into the nuts and bolts of the particular issue, but I think the public is well aware of a recent circumstance that I had to help a family here in Yellowknife Centre, but it spoke broadly to types of problems in this area at large to constituents that belong to all of us in some manner or form. Since that incident, actually, I’ve had a lot of calls throughout the city of Yellowknife about problems that they’ve had.
I think all this issue really boils down to is something interesting and I kind of thought this is where the problems should start being examined, which is a tenant bill of rights.
Now, we have the Residential and Tenancy Act, as we all know, and it’s a document there to sort of provide a safety process and, of course, when you have grievances, you take it to the rental and tenancy officer, but that process can take a long time. So that’s the issue, that this constituent, to take it to a hearing, is going to wait over seven weeks before they get their first hearing if they agree to implement the solutions. So, there must be faster ways to do this.
So I’m going to ask the Minister of Justice, what does he think of the concept of a tenant bill of rights that can be put forward quickly into action with quick solutions and provide some direction in cases of emergency waiting maybe seven weeks or more before a solution gets implemented? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister of Justice, Mr. Ramsay.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. During the summer of 2013, the Department of Justice distributed a consultation document on potential amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act. In response, we received 17 submissions to that. Submissions were received from housing organizations, landlords, territorial and community agencies and some individuals. The deputy rental officer and the NWT Housing Corporation also submitted responses to the consultation paper. Suggestions for improvements to the act were also received from MLAs and will be considered as part of the consultation.
The time, energy and careful thought that the organizations and individuals put into their submission certainly is greatly appreciated. The department has now completed an analysis of the submissions received and has developed a set of proposed amendments, which it plans to bring forward during 2014.
I also wanted to respond to the Member about the application made to the rental officer related to the recent incident that occurred at an apartment building here in Yellowknife that sustained flood damage. As this matter is currently before the rental officer, it would be inappropriate for me to comment specifically on that case. Thank you.
Thank you. I’m not after this particular issue of the last part of the statement. I’m talking about the broader picture, which is if incidents happen, what avails themselves to solutions? A bill, or I should say a tenants’ rights bill, may be the solution. That’s what I’m getting at. The Minister said any potential amendments coming forward wouldn’t be coming, probably at the earliest, before fall of this year. So that’s October or November.
So, in essence, what can the Minister do so we don’t have circumstances like this when your apartment, whatever the case may be, be it flood, who knows, fire, who knows what the case may be that happens, that the tenant isn’t shown the door and told figure it out, but, by the way, at the same time we’re taking your rent away and they have to figure it out? Something has to be done. I’m looking forward to hear what the Minister has in his ability as Minister to do something.
Thank you. I will check with the department on whether or not it’s too late to get another submission from the Member. Thank you.
It shouldn’t be from the Member, I’m asking a question to the Minister. What can he do? What’s the point of being Minister of a whole department? I’m asking you a question. What can you do as Minister? Thank you.
Thank you. We will continue to work forward with the process that we have in place. We’ve received submissions and we will be bringing forward amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act later this year, which will be debated in this House. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.
Mr. Speaker, the Minister is well within his ability to say I’m going to examine this issue in the public’s good, but maybe he’s more interested in I don’t know what. I’m not going to suggest anything, I’m just saying I don’t know what he’s more interested in. Maybe he doesn’t think that people are important. I do, and I’m certainly sure he’s going to stand up and say he cares about them as well. But all I’m asking him to do is take this initiative very seriously that we should have some type of tenant bill of rights, because when a tenant is shown the door due to construction or delay or whatnot, the landlord continues to take their money and they’re left at their own avails and we have to hope that the landlord steps up and makes sure that they are not left in the dark or on their own or on the street. That’s the problem. So, frankly, I’m just looking for a bit of leadership on this issue that we will ensure that when families are in crisis, they’re not left to the street, that’s it, because a hearing could take three weeks, seven weeks, and if they don’t appeal, that’s fast. Thank you.
Thank you. I certainly do care about people. I’ve been in this position for almost 12 years now and I do take my job very seriously. If the Member is so inclined, he has got the opportunity to move a motion on the floor of the House if he wants to pursue his idea. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
