Thanks, Mr. Chair. I hear the Minister. I don’t think housing got a fair shake in terms of the money that is flowing to the NWT through the Low Carbon Economy Fund. I think the federal government would be very receptive to increasing the amount that would go for public housing. I am going to leave that to the Minister to sort out. My point here is: we just have to be able to make sure that public housing becomes more of a priority for our Cabinet in the decisions that are made around what gets submitted to federal infrastructure pots like the Low Carbon Economy Fund. I know I bothered this Minister about this issue. I have bothered the previous Minister about this issue. I have raised it in the House in this sitting. Housing is just not a high enough priority for our Cabinet when it comes to federal infrastructure dollars.
Anyways, as I understand this bilateral that is being negotiated as part of the National Housing Strategy, the Minister seems to indicate that this is close. I know these details are not public, but we are supposed to be functioning in some kind of a consensus government system. Can the Minister commit to share what he can at this point about what is being negotiated or what is on the table, what has already been agreed to with that bilateral with the appropriate standing committee before the agreement is actually signed, understanding that this is a consensus government system and that the information might have to be provided on a confidential basis? Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. First off, I just want to let the Member know that, when we speak with our federal counterparts, we continue to put the pressure and let them know our challenges here up in the North. We have actually invited the Minister to come up North and see the challenges of building housing units or any other type of infrastructure. It has been a consistent message to get more funds flowing to the Northwest Territories.
In the bilaterals, we are looking at modernizing and making our units more energy efficient. That will lower the costs on our stock. In terms of providing the details, I would have to take that back to my Cabinet colleagues. However, the Member does know that when we did go through our business plans review, that we did commit that once the bilaterals are signed and finalized, that I would be more than willing to come and present to committee on the details of that agreement. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. I am just trying to figure out how much further I can go with this. Look, roads and highways are the priority for this Cabinet. The Minister of Infrastructure, when he appeared before senate committee on the same day that Nunavut announced that they were going to get $12 million for public housing retrofits under the Low Carbon Economy Fund, our Minister of Infrastructure appeared before us, the senate committee. All he talked about was the big toys for big boys: Taltson, Mackenzie Valley Highway, Slave Geological Province Road, Tlicho All Season Road. Housing was not even mentioned in his speech to those people, not even mentioned in terms of infrastructure needs for the Northwest Territories.
That is the kind of emphasis that is wrong, in my opinion. It is not what our residents need. I want you to work and I know you are going to work hard on this, Minister, but that is not the message that is getting out there. That is not the message that is being delivered in Ottawa. It needs to change. Thanks. That is all I have, Mr. Chair.
Thank you for that comment, Mr. O'Reilly. No one further on the list. I will call this activity. NWT Housing Corporation, finance and infrastructure services, $18,276,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Please return to page 66. I will call the departmental total. NWT Housing Corporation, total capital estimates, $18,276,000. Does the committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Do you agree that this concludes our consideration of the NWT Housing Corporation?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Thank you to the Minister and to your witnesses. Sergeant at arms, you may escort the witnesses from the Chamber. What is the wish of committee? Mr. Beaulieu
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I move that the chair rise and report progress. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. There's a motion to report progress. The motion is in order. To the motion. The motion is non-debatable. All those in favour? Always those opposed?
---Carried
May have the report, Member for Hay River North.
Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Tabled Document 215-18(3), Capital Estimates, 2019-2020, and would like to report progress, and, Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with.
Masi. Do I have a seconder? Minister for Nahendeh. The motion is in order. All those in favour? All those opposed?
---Carried
Orders of the day for Monday, October 29, 2018, 1:30 p.m.:
Prayer
Ministers’ Statements
Members’ Statements
Returns to Oral Questions
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Acknowledgements
Oral Questions
Written Questions
Returns to Written Questions
Replies to the Commissioner’s Opening Address
Petitions
Reports of Standing and Special Committees
Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills
Tabling of Documents
Notices of Motion
Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills
Motions
First Reading of Bills
-
Bill 29, An Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act
-
Bill 30, An Act to Amend the Human Rights Act
Second Reading of Bills
-
Bill 25, An Act to Amend the Workers’ Compensation Act
-
Bill 26, Statistics Act
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
-
Bill 24, An Act to Amend the Elections and Plebiscites Act
-
Minister's Statement 19-18(3), Aurora College Foundational Review Process
-
Minister's Statement 103-18(3), Marine Transportation Services
-
Tabled Document 215-18(3), Capital Estimates, 2019-2020
Report of Committee of the Whole
Third Reading of Bills
Orders of the Day
Masi, Mr. Clerk. This House stand adjourned until Monday, October 29, 2018, at 1:30 pm.
---ADJOURNMENT
The House adjourned at 3:04 p.m.
