Debates of May 27, 2005 (day 3)

Thank you, Madam Chair. I wish I had questions for the Minister of Transportation today because I also have driven the soupy cow trail, also referred to as Highway No. 7. Fortunately, the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation will have the pleasure of my questions today, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, yesterday and today I talked about the $72,000 payment for down payment assistance, as well as a $109,000 payment. My concern is the pot is drying up very quickly with the enormous, outrageous payments to one or two clients out there that, as far as I am concerned, aren’t connected to any type of reality other than trying to get as big of a payment as possible while we are missing out on helping families. Only 14 families were helped last year. Did we turn any approved applications away last year because the pot had dried up? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

Return To Question 30-15(4): Expanded Downpayment Assistance Program

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, we have, because there are certain responsibilities individuals have. Sure, you can put an application in, but it’s approved based on certain conditions. You have to be able to acquire a mortgage from a bank. You have to go to a financial institution. You have to identify exactly what your income threshold is and make sure you can afford to pay down the mortgage. Last, but not least, it’s conditional that you obtain financing through a bank before we go forward with the application. There is also a 90-day time period where you have to ensure that you go through that process in the 90 days, have all the information provided to the Housing Corporation, and maintain a mortgage which is guaranteed through a bank. So there are conditions that you have to meet and if you do not meet those conditions, your application is pulled. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Everyone is doing really well this morning. I have only been called Mr. Speaker twice, but I noticed Mr. Hawkins and Mr. Krutko have referred to me as Madam Chair. For the record, we are in the formal sitting of the chamber and Madam Speaker would be more appropriate.

---Laughter

Supplementary To Question 30-15(4): Expanded Downpayment Assistance Program

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Humblest apologies, Madam Speaker, humblest apologies. Madam Speaker, I think the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation gave me an excellent answer to a question I really hope to ask one of these days, because it was a very qualitative answer. The question was, clearly, if someone was approved of the financing, approved of the waiting period, approved of everything, that great answer that was said by the Minister. Were any applications returned because the funding pot had dried up? I am referring to only approved applications. Were any returned because of no money? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 30-15(4): Expanded Downpayment Assistance Program

Madam Chair, like I stated…Sorry, Madam Speaker. Like I stated, there is a budget that we do operate out of. In last year’s budget, we allocated almost $2.2 million and out of that we approved 42 applications. The program is universal right across the Northwest Territories, not only in Yellowknife. We have allocated $1 million this year for the city of Yellowknife for this program. It’s based on the number of applications you get and the amount of money in the budget. So you approve the budget through this process and you can help only so many people with the resources you have. So on that basis, people will be turned down if there is no more money in the program.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 30-15(4): Expanded Downpayment Assistance Program

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I think we were really close to an answer that time. We heard “will be turned down,” but we didn’t hear “were turned down.” So, Madam Speaker, were any applications turned down, yes or no, because of lack of funding? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 30-15(4): Expanded Downpayment Assistance Program

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yes.

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

Supplementary To Question 30-15(4): Expanded Downpayment Assistance Program

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I want to thank the Minister for that efficient reply. Now I will ask the fine Minister the detailed question, which was how many applications were turned down? If we turned down one, that is a travesty. So how many applications did we turn away at the door because the funding pot had dried up with us giving away outrageous payments of $50,000 plus, $60,000 plus, $72,000 plus? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 30-15(4): Expanded Downpayment Assistance Program

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, as we all know, the program is based on the amount of money that we do have in the pot and the number of applications you have received. On that basis, it depends on the amount of applications. Yes, we have turned people down time and again. That’s why people continue to go back year after year to reapply on these programs, because there is only so much money in the pot. If the Member would like to ensure that they increase the budget next year for this program so we can assist more people, I think that is the way we can solve this problem. Thank you.