Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today in my Member’s statement I talked about some of the problems my constituents are having with their NWT Housing Corporation HAP units and, more specifically, the roofs. I have questions for the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation. Mr. Speaker, does the Minister agree that this HAP roof problem exists in these homes that I spoke of and that the issue is outside the control of the HAP clients? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation, Mr. Robert McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are some concerns and there were some issues with some of these roofs. They were built in accordance with the National Building Code of the day, but we have been hearing some issues with the design of the roofs. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, can the Minister advise me if he and the NWT Housing Corporation staff, specifically the key staff, are aware of the problem and why the problem actually exists? I am wondering if he is aware technically why the problem actually exists. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, we are well aware of the problem and the technical aspect as to why they had some issues with these roofs. Unlike other roof repair programs, the corporation has actually taken the lead in identifying some of the HAP houses with these roof problems. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, will the Minister agree to have staff meet with the clients in Fort Resolution that have this specific problem with the roof, and as a result of which I believe to be a wrong material application on the roof on the design option first selected in the 1980s? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, we are always happy to meet with some of the residents that have some issues with some concerns with the roofs. The technical staff will take the lead in determining that if repairs are required, and then they will also estimate the cost of repairs, and then they will ensure the programs advisor is notified. The programs advisor will then meet with the clients and, if eligible, there will be some financial assistance. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Mr. Beaulieu.
Mr. Speaker, I believe this to be a special case. I believe that some of these clients, after 20 years of being homeowners, may fall outside some of the program parameters that exist currently. Can the Minister, however, commit to providing technical support and, more importantly, some financial support to bring these units to a proper state for safety as well as for the comfort of the homeowners? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, we will be pleased to provide the technical report. I have already outlined a bit of the process we will be going through with identification and doing an estimate of the work required on some of these roofs. If the clients qualify, they will be offered some financial assistance to repair the roofs. This initiative is actually going to be a priority repair for clients who apply for homeownership repair programs. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
