Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to talk about programs and services and also capital this government delivers. Mr. Speaker, we made a political decision to reform our allocation to capital from the spring session to the fall session so we could meet particular demands on ice roads to ensure we had enough time for groups or companies bidding on contracts to be able to resupply those communities and get the materials in. Mr. Speaker, I think one thing we forgot is the programs and services the government also delivers which depend on a similar type of arrangement, especially through the Housing Corporation for maintenance and assistance programs, seniors programs or the CARE program or other programs we have in government, because they also depend on similar shipping requirements and the building of capital in the Northwest Territories.
Mr. Speaker, I have heard from a constituent of mine who was approved for CARE through the Housing Corporation. The individual came to the community last month and then wasn’t able to get back into his community because of freeze-up. Now the person has half a job done and they are stuck holding the bag and they don’t have any hot water in their home because of the way this contract was let. If anything, these contracts should be let in an allowable time where contractors can deliver on their contracts, can provide good housing programs to our residents and streamline so they do fit with government decision-making such as changing the capital process in the Northwest Territories.
So I would like to, at the appropriate time, ask the Minister of Housing if we have looked at the delivery system, such as CARE, to fall in line with our capital allocations and the budgetary process we have just approved and just gone through so that people aren’t found in a position where they have a plumber coming to do the work, they leave the community and they don’t have any hot water because of freeze-up. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
