Debates of March 2, 2006 (day 40)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS Members of this and previous assemblies have expressed concerns about the extent and quality of reporting by the NWT Housing Corporation to the Legislative Assembly and the resulting impact on the ability of committees to perform their oversight function;

AND WHEREAS Members and the Auditor General of Canada have expressed concerns with certain business activities and decisions of the NWT Housing Corporation;

AND WHEREAS there is a critical need for adequate, accessible and affordable housing in NWT communities;

AND WHEREAS Members are not confident that the NWT Housing Corporation is making the most effective use of its resources to address the need for adequate, accessible and affordable housing;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, that the Legislative Assembly request the Auditor General of Canada to undertake a performance audit of the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation and report thereon to the Legislative assembly;

AND FURTHER, that the performance audit examine the corporation's organizational structure, activities, practices, attitudes, philosophy, decision-making processes, internal performance measures and procedures to ascertain the corporation's planning and management capacity and effectiveness;

AND FURTHERMORE, that the audit examine the adequacy and appropriateness of the corporation's governance model and accountability relationship to the Legislative Assembly and its committees and, in particular, the quality and relevance of the business plans, main estimates and other documents put before the Legislative Assembly and its committees;

AND FURTHERMORE, that the Auditor General examine such additional factors as she, in her opinion, feels are relevant;

AND FURTHERMORE, that all employees and officials actively cooperate with the Auditor General in providing all appropriate documents, records, papers and information;

AND FURTHERMORE, that the Assembly request the Auditor General to complete this audit as expeditiously as possible.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Menicoche. To the motion. Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier, I mentioned that the time has come for a certain motion put forward by one of the Members and here’s another motion whose time has come.

It took 30 years for us to have a review of the NWT Housing Corporation. I often speak that the Housing Corporation Act of 1978 is very old. It comes from a distant colonial past that we are doing this for you, your own good. In fact, some of our policies, Mr. Speaker, still do that, like the EDAP and mortgage assistance policies. Well, we’ll lend you the money, but we will still build it for you and you will have to pay us. That’s kind of ridiculous. That’s not what people in my constituency or throughout the North want anymore, Mr. Speaker. If it’s their money, then they should feel free to do what they want and build the quality construction that they want and need. This is one of the ways that we have to release those ties there, Mr. Speaker. The Housing Corporation Minister is just going to have to let go of our people and let them be free with regard to the programming.

Free!

---Laughter

In fact, in all of our policies and guidelines, of the key words missing is quality construction. We are making it adequate. We are making it accessible and affordable, but the biggest single concern that is brought to my attention time and time again is quality; quality in construction and, indeed, quality in providing the services and programming that the people have. Often, they get frustrated with the multi-layered bureaucracies that even the one department has.

Mr. Speaker, some of the functions that were there before are no longer there anymore. Once, in the act, it called for a creation of a board of directors, but those are gone now. So that is one function of accountability that is gone. It is not there anymore. The Minister has the ultimate authority in his entire department. Single-handedly, he is making decisions. That is something that is gone, as well. That is from the old colonial days when we, indeed, had a Commissioner that, through his goodness and his will, things happened. Now, that is gone again. I continue to reiterate that.

Overall, the corporation does need an overhaul. Many of its original functions are no longer with it, like providing social housing. We just, in fact, transferred that responsibility over to ECE, but yet we are still functioning as a social housing unit, so that, too, has to be reviewed there, Mr. Speaker. I think the biggest thing is that, throughout the North, people are saying let’s overhaul the Housing Corporation. I know that the corporation is extending every effort to do that, as well. Here, having it done by an external source, the Auditor General's office, is just another way of getting outside eyes looking in and seeing how things can be done a lot better. That is all people want, is to make sure they have an accountable organization taking care of them. They have a responsible organization and a relevant organization, Mr. Speaker. With that, I will conclude my statement in just saying that I look forward to this Auditor General’s report and a revamping of the Housing Corporation. Mahsi cho.

---Applause

Mahsi, Mr. Menicoche. To the motion.

Question.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

---Applause

What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Committee wishes to consider Committee Report 8-15(4).

Does committee agree?

Agreed.

Thank you. We will take a little short break for about 15 minutes.

---SHORT RECESS

Good afternoon. We will reconvene Committee of the Whole. Right now, we are reviewing Committee Report 8-15(4). I would like to ask the deputy chair of AOC to speak to the report.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am going to briefly outline the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight comments. We tabled Committee Report 8-15(4) on February 24th and it has to do with the Auditor General’s overview of March 21, 2002 to 2003.

In brief, Mr. Chairman, the Auditor General’s report on other matters consisted of several areas, but specifically it touched on areas of the NWT Housing Corporation with shipment of housing to Alaska. Committee members were concerned about that. It also consisted of diamond loan guarantees, consolidated budgets, Mr. Chairman. I will now conclude by saying that committee members may have individual comments. I will move two motions once general comments have been received. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I move that this committee recommends that the Executive Council table a comprehensive response to this report within 120 days in accordance with Rule 93(5) of the rules of the Legislative Assembly.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The motion is being handed out right now. To the motion.

Question.

Question is being called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that this committee recommends that the GNWT compare consolidated budgets beginning with the 2008-09 budget cycle. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.

Question is being called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

---Applause

Thank you. Does committee agree that consideration of Committee Report 8-15(4) is concluded?

Agreed.

Thank you. What is the wish of committee? Mr. Menicoche.

I move that we report progress.

The motion is in order. It’s not debatable. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

I will now rise and report progress. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Committee Report 8-15(4) and would like to report progress with two motions being adopted. Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. A seconder to the motion? Mr. Krutko.

---Applause

Thank you. Motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Deh Cho, that Bill 19, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 2005-2006, be read for the third time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister Roland. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Frame Lake, that Bill 16, Tobacco Control Act, be read for the third time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Bill 16 has had third reading.

---Applause

Before we move on to prorogation, I would like to note that Members and committees of the House still have a very busy schedule ahead of them to attend to in the coming months and in the run-up to the start of the Fifth Session of this Assembly in May. May you show sound judgement in your deliberations on behalf of all northerners. I would like to take this opportunity to send our heartfelt thoughts and prayers to the Speaker of the House, Mr. Delorey, and the Deputy Speaker, Mrs. Groenewegen, as they deal with difficult personal matters.

To everyone here today, I wish you safe travels home to your families. I would also like to acknowledge our Pages and their contributions during this sitting. Students from Diamond Jenness School in Hay River; Chief Jimmy Bruneau School in Behchoko; Chief Sunrise Education Centre on the Hay River Reserve; Thomas Simpson School in Fort Simpson; and, Mildred Hall and William McDonald schools here in Yellowknife. All served honourably as Pages during the past month. Pages carry out the important role in the operation of this Assembly and we greatly appreciate their efforts. I would like to particularly thank two of my constituents, David Brinston and Taylor Irvine for their hard work during this session. It was a pleasure to have you in the House.

---Applause

Our thanks also go out to the hard-working staff of the Legislative Assembly and the GNWT, whose efforts are greatly appreciated by those of us who depend on them. At this time, I would like to offer my thanks and best wishes to a number of Assembly staff who will be moving on to new challenges prior to our next sitting: Cheryl Voytilla; Andrew Stewart; Darha Philpot; and, Moses Hernandez have served this House and all Members with great dedication and skill. On behalf of all Members, I want to wish Cheryl, Andrew, Darha and Moses the very best in their new challenges.

---Applause

Whether they are personal or professional, our contractors who prepare Hansard and prepare our audio visual, catering, security and janitorial services are also to be acknowledged for the vital services they provide. Thank you to all. You have done an outstanding job and we appreciate your hard work a great deal.

---Applause

I would like to thank honourable Members for abiding by the rules of this House during my short, but enjoyable, term as Speaker.

---Laughter

Although the circumstances leading up to my temporary appointment are truly regrettable, I was honoured to serve as your Speaker. I would like to invite all Members to the Speaker’s portrait gallery at the rise of the House today to witness the official unveiling of Speaker Whitford’s portrait.

Monsieur le president, monsieur le premier minister, messieurs les deputes, Mesdames et messieurs, et amis. It is my privilege and pleasure to be back among you all again. It brings back some fond memories sitting in this chair. It certainly looks different this side of the TV. I watch you everyday.

Since we were last together, the Year of the Veteran has come to a close. It was an important year, recognizing the selfless and courageous contribution veterans have made to our country. I was involved in the celebration of our veterans, culminating in a number of special events that took place in November last year. Once again, I ask all northerners to reflect with gratitude, upon the difference the actions of our veterans have made to our lives. We enjoy many freedoms today because of their bravery and we thank them sincerely.

It has been one of my goals since taking office to visit as many Northwest Territories communities as possible, to talk to residents and participate in those events and ceremonies that are dear to them. I am pleased to report I have now visited 11 of our communities…

---Applause

…having added the communities of Trout Lake and Gameti to the list most recently. I would like to thank the residents of both places for their warm welcome and hospitality during my visits. It was a pleasure to meet with you all. I look forward to travelling to more communities in the months to come.