Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have questions for the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to ask the Minister if she can explain how a family that has an adequate and suitable housing be in core need.
Masi. Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Within the “core need” definition, there are three aspects that are looked at, and so that is adequacy, as you stated, suitability, and the third piece is affordability. Some people will live in an adequate house that is suitable but still can’t afford to maintain that unit. That is the definition. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I’d like to ask the Minister if she believes that the income support program can be used to eliminate core need.
I don’t think it’s a really easy answer to say that one program can actually eliminate core need, especially when you look at the core need does talk about adequacy and suitability as well as affordability. Income support does address some of the affordability issues, perhaps not all of them, especially in the market communities where our rents are so high. But adequacy and suitability are not areas that, in my opinion, income support would be addressing.
Mr. Speaker, I’d like to ask the Minister if the affordability issue stands alone in core need. According to the definition that’s in the Housing Corporation and even according to the definition of that with CMHC, they consider any one of the three to be core need. My question was: if you provide income, are you eliminating core need? That’s my question again. Mr. Speaker. Does the Minister believe that having an affordability only, without having a suitability or an adequacy issue, puts the person in core need?
I’m going to try to address the question, because I’m a bit confused on what the Member is asking. Yes, affordability can still maintain someone in core need because, again, we don’t have control over our market rents. Even if someone has a greatpaying job, there can still be affordability issues in the market housing that is available. Now, if somebody chooses to live in a house that is above their means, that’s a personal choice. But, as when it comes to normal market rents, there still will be affordability issues with people that work in the lowerincome positions.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Tu NedheWiilideh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to thank the Minister for that response. Mr. Speaker, does the Minister believe that an individual that gets a goodpaying job can take themselves out of core need if they have a house that is not suitable and not adequate? Thank you.
Actually, this is one example that I can say yes, that money does fix all issues because, if you do have enough money, you can actually make sure that your house is suitable and adequate Yes, but it does come down to having the right financial capital to be able to make those changes.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.
