Debates of May 28, 2004 (day 15)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question today is for the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation. This morning I raised a very important question to the Minister of RWED with regard to the impacts the industry will have on the Government of the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, transitional housing and homelessness is one of the major social programs that will be impacted. The Member stated that he will work with other departments to try to mitigate those impacts. Also in the 14th Assembly, we worked very closely with several proponents to try to eradicate the high cost of delivering housing to NWT residents and one of the areas was to try to pay the premiums on the development of housing, which would be a turnover to the Government of the Northwest Territories completion of the Mackenzie Valley pipeline. I would like to ask the Minister this morning what the status report is on whether he has followed up on this initiative. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation, Mr. McLeod.

Return To Question 173-15(3): Impacts On Social Housing In The North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the issue of homelessness is a very large, broad issue across the board. We share responsibility through a number of different departments, including ECE, Health and the Housing Corporation. We have set up a social Ministers’ committee to work more as a team, to talk about the issues that we have across the North. We also have a Minister responsible for homelessness. Having said that, the NWT Housing Corporation plays a large role when it comes to addressing homelessness. There are two categories as part of that definition: the relative homelessness and the absolute homelessness. We certainly have a number of people who can be defined as relative homeless across the North. Most of the people who are in our social housing programs fit that definition. We continue to make housing more available. Our goal is to follow through with a number of the initiatives that were started in the 14th Assembly and to meet all the challenges that are being placed in front of us, such as declining funding from CMHC and also the current Government of the Northwest Territories fiscal situation. So we have huge challenges. We have industry that is developing across the North. We are looking at pipeline projects. We are doing analysis. We are just currently packaging up our core needs assessment for 2004. We will be making that information known and will set our government direction based on that information. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Allen.

Supplementary To Question 173-15(3): Impacts On Social Housing In The North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think I memorized that line as well, but my question is in the context of social impacts on residents of the Northwest Territories brought on by industry, diamond mining, oil and gas. Mr. Speaker, it’s in the context of affordability. I was glad to see the Minister has afforded the initiative for removing the BIP for economic housing. Precisely what kind of mitigation is the Minister prepared to do to ensure the continuation of the liaison between the proponents, and is he willing to give the residents of the Northwest Territories affordable housing once projects are completed and once his department would like to entertain in terms of the redesign and also the engineering of those homes so they can be moved from a camp setting to the community at a reduced cost to those who are prepared to buy those units? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation, Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 173-15(3): Impacts On Social Housing In The North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess there are a number of different questions that the Member raised. Mr. Speaker, we have programs in place. We are looking at affordable housing. Our strategy is still there and is continuing from the 14th Assembly. We still provide funding to developers. We have our corporate loan guarantees. We also provide our social programs. In terms of what we are doing for converting, I think the word the Member used was economic projects and using those facilities; we have not developed that any further. It’s not something we are currently looking at. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Allen.

Supplementary To Question 173-15(3): Impacts On Social Housing In The North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think that was one of the very few initiatives that had potential for NWT residents in terms of affordability. It also had merit in the sense that the costs would be reduced. I am going to ask the Minister again if he is prepared to re-enter into those forms of negotiations and discussions with those proponents that will see affordable housing delivered to the people of the Northwest Territories outside of existing programs? Thank you.

Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation, Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 173-15(3): Impacts On Social Housing In The North

Mr. Speaker, we are engaged in discussions throughout the North with developers, with the development corporations, with the private industry. We are talking to a number of people who are interested in new concepts. I am not clear what the Member is referring to, but I would be wiling to take any proposals or any contact names that the Member is referring to and take it under advisement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.