Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The transitional support of housing investment for 2016-2017 was supported under-budget 2016. This is a $600,000 investment supporting the Centre for Northern Family Organization. The $375,000 for 2017-2018 has been set aside to support similar type investments. If this is not fully expended in the current year, it will be carried over for further investment in this area next year. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you, Mr. Martin. Anything further from committee? Seeing nothing further, NWT Housing Corporation, finance and infrastructure services, operations expenditure summary, $12,450,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Moving on to the final activity, programs and district operations, beginning on page 384, a $31 million activity. Comments or questions from committee? Ms. Green.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, during the business planning process, we had some extensive discussion about the CARE programs. What I'm looking for now is an indication of where the CARE program -- oh, I see. It has gone down by $2 million. What I'm looking for is an indication of why this reduction has been made. Thank you.
Thank you. Mr. Martin.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Regarding the utilization of the CARE program, this is certainly one area that the Housing Corporation is continuing to review along with all the other programs within the corporation through this strategic renewal initiative. The past several years, the Housing Corporation has noted a decline since the 2012-2013 delivery season, when there were about 102 homeowners supported through that program.
Currently in 2016-2017, the most recent audited actuals, obviously as reflected here, there was a total support of $823,000, so that's only 19 per cent of the total available budget. Based on utilization and the less uptake, this was identified as an area for a reduction or fiscal. Sorry, Mr. Chairman, just a second. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. To add to that, as part of the review, there is changes now being implemented in the area of the CARE Major to remove the co-pay requirement. This was identified as one of the limitations to the program, that contributed to less uptake.
The Housing Corporation is expecting, with this adjustment, as well as others as the programs are reviewed, the uptake for the coming year will be a lot more. The $2 million now established for 2018-2019 will be sufficient going forward. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Ms. Green.
Thank you. The witness may have, in part, answered my next question, which is why the uptake is so low. Is it the Housing Corporation's understanding that the copay is the only reason, or are there other reasons as well? Thank you.
Thank you. Minister.
The primary reason, yes, is the copayment. Like I have said many times, people that are making $20,000 can't afford to pay 10 per cent. With the changes where anyone under $60,000 doesn't need to have a copayment towards the CARE programs, we are hoping that there will be an increase in uptake within that. Again, this is one that we are watching carefully.
It needs to be noted that the Housing Corporation has gone through a lot of changes and more changes to come. Within that, there may have to be some reallocations of funding to make sure that the programs we are changing are adequately funded.
At this time, they are just beginning, so we are closely monitoring. In previous years, the CARE Major was not expended at capacity, so it may increase, but based on previous years, it was not used to capacity. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Ms. Green.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you for the answer. My concern in this area is that, by taking away the copays, many seniors who might use this program to renovate their homes to age in place may find that there is less money available than there has been in the past.
I recognize that the specific aging in place program is the same at $500,000, but maybe the Minister could put my mind at ease by telling me whether it is seniors who are the primary users of CARE or whether it is another segment of the population. Thank you.
Thank you. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. It is a mixture of people, not necessarily only seniors that were using the CARE Major. It is also important to note that, especially with seniors, where we have the aging in place money, but more than that, we are trying to really work with the senior population. We have gone into communities, and we have talked to seniors' associations. We have been trying to reach out to seniors, and we have focused on them, to talk about our other programs such as the CARE PM, which is preventative maintenance. That is an annual program.
The biggest cost when it comes to CARE Major is that people aren't doing the preventative maintenance. It is a lot easier to fix shingles on a roof if you go in every few years than if you leave it for 25 years and your roof is leaking and falling in. We are really trying to focus on the CARE Preventative Maintenance, with the senior population especially, recognizing that they need additional support, to be more proactive in the supports that we are giving them,
Then, of course, seniors with the aging in place can bundle their programs. If they have access to CARE Minor or if they have access to the SAFE program, they can bundle the seniors' aging in place funding. It is not an "only" program; it is a "plus" program. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you for that thorough answer. Anything further, Ms. Green, to programs and district operations?
Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I appreciate that answer. I am wondering how the message about these program changes is being communicated to seniors. Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Green. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. We have met with the Seniors' Society, who are helping us to get this information out. As well, as stated earlier, we recognize that our website needs to be changed, so we are working on that currently. We are also looking at a communications plan on a regular basis so that not only this program but all of the changes need to be out.
I have given direction, and it was followed through, to make sure every local housing organization, every Aboriginal government, every municipal government, actually had the information on our changes.
Just from the past weekend, one of the Regular Members and myself went to Fort Simpson. I looked on the bulletin board of the Aboriginal government there, and I noticed that our programs weren't there. I am going to make a conscious effort, if I have to provide that information on a more regular basis, I need the Aboriginal and the municipal governments and all of the organizations within communities to help me get that information out.
Communication is the toughest issue. Not everyone listens to the Leg. In fact, my guess is a lot of people don't listen to what is happening in the House. We are working on a communication plan to get this information out. There is no sense doing a program renewal if we don't get it out. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Ms. Green.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Agreed, there is no point if people don't know about it. I am not sure the website is the most effective way to reach the seniors. The Seniors' Society is probably a better choice.
Just finally, in this area, and I recognize this might not be the right area, but anyway, I will ask the question. The waiting list for affordable seniors' housing in Yellowknife is six years long at the Avens Court, and I am wondering if the Minister can tell us about her new initiative to create more independent housing for seniors in Yellowknife. Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Green. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am not sure what page it is, but it is in our capital plan. We are actually looking at building a seniors' complex within the community of Yellowknife. We are targeting for 22 units. I know it is small, but it is the most progress thing we have done in many, many years.
Of course, within that, we are doing the full review of a study of what seniors' needs are throughout the territory so that we can actually be more strategic in putting seniors' units up. They are our knowledge; they are our history. It is important that we respect them and we provide accommodations as best as possible. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Closing comments, Ms. Green?
Thank you, Mr. Chair. While 22 units does sound modest, I think there are around about 30 units in Avens Court; so this would almost double the amount of housing. I am going to call this a really good start. We obviously need more in years to come, but I appreciate the answers that I have received, and I have nothing further. Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Green. NWT Housing Corporation, programs and district operations, operations expenditure summary, $31,921,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. There is one information item on page 387. If there are no comments, we can return to the departmental total. Seeing none, committee, please return to page 373. Ms. Green.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the Housing Corporation has received $3.6 million each year for 10 years. Where would I find that added to the budget? Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Green. Mr. Martin.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The $3.6 million for 2018-2019 is allocated in a few different areas within our budget here today. $1.5 million was allocated for repairs to the social housing stock. That is modernization and improvements. $1 million was allocated to demolition and environmental remediation work. $900,000 was allocated to community housing support initiative projects. $100,000 was allocated to increase our apprenticeship program investment. Finally, we used $100,000 to support incremental policy staffing to support the strategic renewal. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Ms. Green.
Thank you. Nothing further.
Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. I guess this is the point where I could ask questions about revenues for the Housing Corporation. The Minister's colleague made a statement in the House earlier today about federal infrastructure funding. There is $570 million coming to the GNWT from the federal government. It's going to be, I guess that's 75 per cent federal dollars that we have to match with 25 per cent of our own funds. I'm just wondering how much of that funding is going to be used towards housing.
Of course, I'm looking at the report that the Minister tabled in the House called, "Towards Level Ground" where housing core need is set out. There's a bit of a, not more than a bit, there is a table in here that shows that it would cost $67 million as of the time that the Minister tabled this report to get rid of the core housing needs here. The $36 million that the Minister talked about for the Northern Housing Fund is not going to meet this need. So is the Minister looking at accessing some of this $570 million in infrastructure funding to help get our housing out of core need? Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Minister.
Thank you. I was just trying to think of the name of the infrastructure or funding that we just announced today with the federal government. That one I believe is called the Building Canada Plan, Phase 2. I may be incorrect, but I believe it's called that.
That infrastructure money that was announced today actually is not to address the housing. The housing infrastructure, the housing money is actually coming through within the National Housing Strategy. I have a FPT in the middle of April, if they don't change the date, because they've changed it a couple of times so far. We'll be looking at that allocation.
So far they've confirmed the $36 million over 10 years. They are looking at how they can assist the North more. We are advocating so that we can actually get something more equitable to the Nunavut government. They are all still looking at an Aboriginal stream, and we are working with them to try to actually expand that because right now, as they currently have it, it's not going to meet the needs of the Aboriginal governments within our communities.
We've been working diligently with them, but not on our own. It's important to note that we've been working in partnership with the other two territories. We're working in partnership and trying to get our needs to the table so that they recognize that the North is different.
It was a huge movement actually when we got them to state that there was going to be a northern strategy. We just need to push a little bit further and ensure that the needs of the Northwest Territories are met within that. The infrastructure money will be coming within the National Housing Strategy and the Aboriginal stream. We're still working diligently on making sure the needs of the territories are addressed within that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. Well, that's all great information. I want to thank the Minister for that. I'm looking at the Minister of Infrastructure's statement in the House today. He talks about how there are a number of streams for this federal infrastructure money, some of which you think would be where housing would be eligible, things like Green Infrastructure Fund, Rural and Northern Communities Fund, Arctic Energy Fund. Can any of these funds be accessed and used for housing? Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Mr. Martin.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Housing Corporation has been working and collaborating with the Department of Infrastructure regarding a couple of separate pots of funding. We've been working in terms of completing a proposal for Environment and Climate Change Canada's Low Carbon Economy Fund. Within that application, the Housing Corporation is proposed to receive $4 million, which translates into about $1 million a year over the next four years. That will be cost-matched by the Housing Corporation, I understand approximately 25 per cent.
The funding associated with this application would support energy upgrades for 128 existing housing units across the Northwest Territories, as well as a conversion of 43 oil fire heating systems in Yellowknife to propane. That's one example of an area that we're working with the Department of Infrastructure on. We're also working on an application or have for this past year regarding INAC's REACHE program. This is the Northern Responsible Energy Approach for Community Heat and Electricity Program. It's a long name. Under that program, the Housing Corporation was supported in an investment for PV and solar system for the Whati seniors complex. The year before that, the Housing Corporation was supported under that same program for a solar system for the 17-plex in Inuvik.
There are a couple of programs out there certainly that we continue to work with the Department of Infrastructure on. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you, Mr. Martin. Mr. O'Reilly.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. Yes, those are great examples of the Housing Corporation getting creative and accessing federal infrastructure programs. I'm really pleased to see that, but are there any concrete plans by the corporation to access the $570 million in infrastructure funding that was announced just outside in the Great Hall here earlier today? Is the Housing Corporation looking at getting any of that money to carry out the Towards Level Ground that's required, or are we just going to use it all to build roads? Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I agree with the Member that housing needs are important within the Northwest Territories and we need to look at all accesses, all opportunities for funding. I am hopeful that the National Housing Strategy and the Indigenous Funding will actually address some of the needs within the territories, but I do commit that we will continue to work with the Department of Infrastructure to identify any opportunities that we can use to increase and better maintain the stock of housing that we have in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, okay, I want to encourage the Minister to continue to go after that some of that federal infrastructure money that was announced in the Great Hall to meet our housing needs. Those are critical for our residents.
When I look at our Towards Level Ground report, there are lots of things in here that you would think would be eligible under this federal infrastructure program, things like emergency repair, seniors aging in place retrofits, new unit constructions, all kinds of things in here that are cost-shared at millions of dollars, that are not funded right now. This federal infrastructure money should be accessed for housing. It shouldn't just be for roads, so I want to encourage the Minister to go after some of that money and work with her Cabinet colleagues to make sure that we meet the needs of our residents. That's all I have to say. Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Next, I have Mr. Thompson.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Hopefully this will be short. In this revenue, is this where the RCMP housing is in this? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Mr. Martin.
