Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues in the House for your comments. I’ve been listening closely and I appreciate the degree of support and criticisms that I’ve heard.
There is, indeed, a critical need to support our communities, particularly given our high and rising cost of living, particularly in the base of low unemployment for many of our public housing tenants. It is an enabling policy in a very direct way. It provides an opportunity to help people get into homeownership and to keep away from arrears, to support their families in the full participation in our society that we all desire.
The Minister is concerned that in fact it will not encourage the high income earners from participating in the full rent. I’d say the evidence is much stronger that we have many more low income earners who would appreciate and benefit from the significant pluses that this simple policy change can engender.
Mrs. Groenewegen mentioned the possibility available right now to replace this very modest loss of income with a 5 percent reduction through the example of the seniors she provided. That is a direct response to the Minister’s concern about that modest bit of lost income.
I think, in summary, this is not a complete answer but is a very important step and one that has been taken by other jurisdictions, including our neighbour to the west and possibly to the east.
I think the main message we want to put forward in the House today is, don’t wait. We’ve waited a long time for this public housing rent subsidy review. It looks like we’re going to wait longer. The message is: Don’t wait. Start now. This is a simple, enabling, and viable policy change. Let’s get it done.
I look forward to the support of the House. I would request a recorded vote.
Mr. Bromley, Mr. Abernethy, Mr. Menicoche, Mr. Ramsay, Mrs. Groenewegen, Mr. Beaulieu, Mr. Hawkins, Mr. Jacobson, Ms. Bisaro, Mr. Krutko.
All those opposed to the motion, please stand. All those abstaining, please stand.
Mr. Lafferty; Ms. Lee; Mr. Miltenberger; Mr. Roland; Mr. McLeod, Deh Cho; Mr. McLeod, Inuvik Twin Lakes; Mr. McLeod, Yellowknife South.
The results of the recorded vote: in favour, 10; against, zero; abstaining, seven.
---Carried
The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to deal with the motion I gave notice of earlier today.
---Unanimous consent granted
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank my colleagues for all their comments and support given to this motion. Mr. Speaker, if Cabinet adopts this motion, we together could make a real change for the people that we represent. Today I ask for a recorded vote. Thank you.
Mr. Jacobson, Ms. Bisaro, Mr. Krutko, Mr. Bromley, Mr. Abernethy, Mr. Menicoche, Mrs. Groenewegen, Mr. Beaulieu, Mr. Hawkins.
All those opposed to the motion, please stand. All those abstaining, please stand.
Mr. Lafferty; Ms. Lee; Mr. Miltenberger; Mr. Roland; Mr. McLeod, Deh Cho; Mr. McLeod, Inuvik Twin Lakes; Mr. McLeod, Yellowknife South.
Results of the recorded vote: in favour, nine; opposed, zero; abstaining, seven. Motion is carried,
---Carried
Item 18, first reading of bills. Item 19, second reading of bills. Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Tabled Document 4-16(5), Executive Summary of the Report of the Joint Review Panel for the Mackenzie Gas Project; Tabled Document 30-16(5), 2010 Review of Members’ Compensation and Benefits; Tabled Document 38-16(5), Supplementary Health Benefits – What We Heard; Tabled Document 62-16(5), Northwest Territories Water Stewardship Strategy; Tabled Document 66-16(5), NWT Capital Estimates 2011-2012; Tabled Document 75-16(5), Response to the Joint Review Panel for the Mackenzie Gas Project on the Federal and Territorial Governments’ Interim Response to “Foundation for a Sustainable Northern Future;” Tabled Document 98-16(5), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 4, 2009-2010; Tabled Document 99-16(5), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 5, 2009-2010; Tabled Document 100-16(5), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2010-2011; Tabled Document 101-16(5), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 4, 2010-2011; Bill 4, An Act to Amend the Social Assistance Act; Committee Report 3-16(5), Standing Committee on Social Programs Report on the Review of the Child and Family Services Act; and Minister’s Statement 65-16(5), Devolution Agreement-in-Principle, Impact on Land Claims and Protection of Aboriginal Rights, with Mr. Krutko in the chair.
