Debates of October 27, 2004 (day 29)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To follow up on the theme today, my questions are directed to Mr. Krutko, the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation. I was looking at the business plan for the corporation and reflecting on the diminishing funding levels from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, which today amount to in the order of $33 million a year. These will sunset. My question, Mr. Speaker, is what lobbying efforts are underway now to restore federal investment in public housing in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, the Honourable Mr. Krutko.

Return To Question 315-15(3): Future Investments In Housing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to thank the Member for that question. Presently we are in dialogue and talks with the people from the AFN -- Billy Erasmus -- with regards to aboriginal housing in Canada. Like I noted earlier, I had a meeting with the federal Minister in Vancouver a number of weeks ago and I believe that the national attention that is on housing and homelessness is out there. I think because of that we, in the North, also have to realize that with these declining funds from CMHC, we have to find new ways of facing our challenges.

We are working with other agencies out there, especially the people in the First Nations community, AFN. We’re also scheduled to meet with the federal Minister at the First Ministers’ meeting at the end of November. That is the process right now that we’re using to dialogue with other organizations. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 315-15(3): Future Investments In Housing

Okay. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So we really have nothing more than another meeting scheduled among Ministers. If the Minister would like to expand on anything there, I’d welcome it at some point, but I’d like to know what other options is our Housing Corporation looking at to ensure that we will continue to have adequate investment in our housing infrastructure, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 315-15(3): Future Investments In Housing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, right now, as a corporation, we are in the process of reviewing the mandate of this corporation. We are taking a look at the program services we do deliver. Also, we are looking at a 10-year plan to look forward on exactly where we go as a corporation and to take on the challenges that we’re facing. We have to find more unique ways of delivering housing in the Northwest Territories, especially with the number of houses that are going to be required. I know a couple of Members touched on the whole area of selling off public housing. That’s one area we’re looking at and, in order to achieve that, to sell off public housing and replacing them with multi-units where we have six or seven units instead of the high cost to operate or maintain a single dwelling. I think those are the types of things we’re looking at doing and moving toward. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Your supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 315-15(3): Future Investments In Housing

Mr. Speaker, the 2004-06 business plan outlines a goal to build between 750 and 800 units in the NWT over the next five years. This is under the affordable housing strategy. Now, this goal is about 18 months old. It’s the most recent one that I could find that’s before the public, Mr. Speaker, and I’d like to ask if these targets, 750 to 800 units over the next five years, are still in place. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 315-15(3): Future Investments In Housing

Mr. Speaker, that is one of the goals we are trying to meet but, based on the budget restraints we do have, in order to meet those goals there are certain things that have to happen. In order to do that we have to sell off units by way of almost 50 units a year to individuals who are either living in those units or to the private sector and replace those units with multi-plex units -- like I mentioned, the six-plex or eight-plex units -- to ensure that we’re able to fill that gap in order to meet that. The key to this is we have to change the way we do business, but to meet that goal we have to implement the 10-year plan that we have put forward and follow that plan to meet that goal at the end of the day.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Your final supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 315-15(3): Future Investments In Housing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Okay, so there seems to be some momentum and some innovation here. The Minister has mentioned something about a 10-year plan. Is this something that has been put before the public or the Assembly and could the Minister tell us more about this initiative? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 315-15(3): Future Investments In Housing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with regard to the 10-year plan, it has been presented to committee. I have presented a briefing to committee on the 10-year plan and some of the initiatives that we’re looking at doing. Also, the whole idea of selling off these units is one of the ideas in the plan; replacing that with the revenue we get. At the present time, we receive almost $70 million a year from the Government of the Northwest Territories. That’s about seven percent of the total budget of this government. In order to meet that goal, we will have to lobby my colleagues on this side of the House to put more money into housing to ensure that we’re able to meet that goal. Right now, seven percent of the $70 million comes forward by way of a grant program through the Government of the Northwest Territories with regard to our operational costs for the Housing Corporation. In order to achieve that, we have to increase it.