Debates of March 31, 2004 (day 12)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation is on the hot seat, maybe we will just carry on with some questions on his portfolio.

---Laughter

I wanted to ask the Minister, in light of the CMHC’s plans to eliminate all funding for public housing in Canada including the NWT by 2038, and that the conundrum of the NWT Housing Corporation is how are they going to raise their own revenue to retain the current level of public housing programs. One thing in the public housing program that has been a real crutch for the staff and the clients in public housing is the rent scale program, which leaves the local housing authorities with a very high level of outstanding receivables every year that the government tends to write off. It is a disincentive for people that are seeking full-time employment, and it provides many loopholes in the system where people are getting away with not paying their fair share of rent. It has been a concern for many Members that are both clients and just regular community members in my constituency, and I am sure others. I am wondering if the department and the Minister will commit to a comprehensive review of the rent scale program, which will address the concerns of LHOs and public housing clients, and not going with just basically what the headquarters staff recommendations are to adjustments in the program and how they will affect the public at large. Mahsi.

Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, two questions.

Return To Question 127-15(3): Review Of The Rent Scale Program For Public Housing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe it is housing theme week.

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The issue by the Member is a serious one. It is something that has also been noted by the Auditor General that it is an issue that has to be focused on. We have been attempting to improve our collections. We have, over the last couple of years, seen drastic improvement. We still have a number of tenants who are in arrears. Our whole social program is based and assessed on tenants' ability to pay, with a ceiling of 30 percent. I will take that back for a review. It may be time that we do that, and I will get back to the Member with some time frames as to when that will happen. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 127-15(3): Review Of The Rent Scale Program For Public Housing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for his commitment to doing some kind of departmental review. Has the Housing Corporation ever considered the approach that the Nunavut government has been taking on their outstanding rent receivables that they have considered in their new rent scale program? Thank you.

Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 127-15(3): Review Of The Rent Scale Program For Public Housing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I haven’t personally reviewed the initiative by the Nunavut government. However, I will take the first opportunity to do so. Thank you.

Final supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 127-15(3): Review Of The Rent Scale Program For Public Housing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will look forward to receiving some recommendations out of that review of the Nunavut rent scale because I think it works, and it takes a different approach and bases everything on the previous year’s taxable income of their clients.

Could the Minister instruct his department to come back within the next few months with some documentation on some well researched and consulted recommendation on changes to our current rent scale program? Thank you.

Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 127-15(3): Review Of The Rent Scale Program For Public Housing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, over the years we have looked at a number of different ways to assess rent for people in the most need, mostly in public housing. We have determined that our system has been the most responsive, as we do monthly assessments. There have been a number of initiatives raised now in this House to take a look at different ways we can improve, or look at changes. I am always willing to do that. I thank the Member for bringing some of those to my attention. I will also take in the request from the Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes for the flat rent scales and come back with some of our comments on it and provide it to the Members. Thank you.