Thank you, Mr. Chair, and as I mentioned, we'll continue to promote these programs through our communications strategy in terms of our office doing work with the district offices and with the LHOs. Further to the Member's questions, sometimes Housing is really the only game in town, when they need to pay those rental costs. Like I said, we're the only game in town in some cases, and it's something we will be looking at. As I said, we're doing a strategic renewal right now. We'll have that information out in April. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Ms. Green.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thanks to the Minister for that. I'm talking here about communities that have a market, such as Yellowknife, not communities which only have public housing. What does success look like for the Housing Corporation in terms of getting people to buy homes? How many homes do they hope to sell in the next fiscal year? Thank you.
Thank you. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. As you heard me speak earlier, one the programs that we're looking at, and hopefully will be successful, is the lease-to-own program, and we do have a target of 60 over three years. We also have the new home ownership program that we're hoping to have one in each of our five districts. You know, the more information that we can get out there, I think we can have more people applying, and also just changing attitudes in terms of public housing units. That's what we want to do. We want to change attitudes so people are a little bit more responsible. Our O and M costs are pretty high. If we can get people into home ownerships, then better for us, better for them. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Ms. Green.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm wondering if the Minister could tell us how the new housing bilateral agreement with Ottawa is reflected on this page. Thank you.
Thank you. Mr. Martin.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Within the 2019-2020 mains, right now, we have built in $3.6 million under the new bilateral agreement with Canada. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you. Ms. Green.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Could the Minister please remind us how that money is going to be allocated? Thank you.
Thank you. Mr. Martin.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The $3.6 million that's currently set up in the budget, we've allocated $1.5 million to modernization and improvement investments for the LHOs into our repairs for social housing stock. We've allocated $1 million into demolition and environmental remediation projects. We've allocated $900,000 into supporting the Community Housing Support Initiative investments. We've set aside $100,000 to top up the Apprenticeship Program to support additional apprentices at our LHO level. Finally, we put an additional $100,000 of that $3.6 million into supporting an additional policy analyst position a couple of years ago, and that continues to support us with our strategic renewal efforts. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you. Ms. Green, your time has expired. Next, we have Mr. Blake.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just a couple of questions. I know the Minister had brought this issue up a couple of times, and the department has actually acted on it. The issue is landscaping around our housing units, mainly the driveways. A lot of these units, there's been absolutely no landscaping done since they actually built the units, which is sometimes 20, 30 years plus. Over time, there's been erosion to units, and it actually damages. Water and sewer trucks that have to deliver water, there are big pot holes, especially in communities like Aklavik, Fort McPherson, Tsiigehtchic. Especially in Aklavik, where we've had flooding over the years, it's a huge issue. I just want to know if there's funding available. I know, sometimes, LHOs aren't given the opportunity to use their budget for gravel that's needed to fill in these driveways. Would the Minister be willing to set aside some funds for that? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, we would be willing to look at that on a case-by-case basis, obviously. I know that throughout the -- well, I'm wearing my other hat, there. We do have nine communities that are on the flood watch, as well as shoreline erosion, and we would look at it on a case-by-case basis. If the Member knows of any situations, I'd encourage him to let us know so we can look at addressing that. Thank you.
Thank you. Mr. Blake.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have a big list here.
---Laughter
No, that's good news, Mr. Chair. There are a number of units that come to mind, but moving forward, I will be sure to work with the department and get the ones that need it the most done, hopefully this spring. Thank you for that.
The other thing was, just under electrical, I know it has gone down quite a bit. I'm sure it's because of some solar power in cases like the Joe Greenland Centre, and I'd like to thank the department because our elders had to use heating, ceramic heaters, and any way to warm up that unit. I'd like to thank them for covering that cost and reimbursing those elders. Let's hope that that's the end of that problem. Moving forward, I know in the last government we were looking at biomass, and I would like to know if the department is looking at hooking up some of these units, like elders' homes and other housing units? Maybe multiplexes with biomass? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. To the previous question, on a case-by-case basis, it would be to any Member, any communities, so any Member who has concerns, please let us know. In terms of the biomass, I did answer some questions today in the House on the work that we are doing, the work that we are doing with our stakeholders and partners, and we also have the community support initiative. We really need to get out there and promote that program, and I think it's going to happen when we have that Northern Housing Summit so that our leaders, our residents, know what kind of programs they can access to help in that area. Thank you.
Thank you. Next, we have Mr. McNeely.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. My colleague from the Delta, his flu must be lifting here, so his spirits are lifting, as well. I'm quite satisfied with the program delivery, having participated in orchestrating a community engagement development plan back on October 5th in Deline, and I see the resource support and the staff support going towards dialogue on developing the community plan. It's all good if you amortize it over one mortgage, say 15, 20 years, but if we are relying on leadership and having experience, the lack of leadership, but the deed from the public demand. An example from the public demand was the article on CBC yesterday. Is there any way that we can overcome that gap and go directly to the needs of the individual who is going to undertake this mortgage? I throw out one suggestion. I want to take advantage of these opportunities that are in front of us similar to how the Power Corporation has taken advantage of the capital resources available from the federal level, which is good, but I would like to see it tickling down to the tenants.
Some communities throughout the territories were only accessible by the winter roads, so if we miss that road, it is another whole year. Some other communities can say, "Yes, okay, we missed a winter road, but our material is going to come on the barge," so there are options. Some don't have that secondary option. Is there any way that we can recruit a development officer to reside in the community over several days to help the individuals? I know we have our regional staff and I see them going on a winter road, going to the communities of the Sahtu, so they are doing their jobs, but they have other tasks at hand, as well. Are there any ways that we can hire additional staff to stay in the community to help the individual follow the guidelines of the program and how to access the program and how to do a material take-off to complete their home wishes? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. That was a really good story on the young gentleman in Colville Lake. We do have programs for people who want to build their own homes. Obviously, we have to look at building codes, for one thing, and also tenants to provide some of their own funding to get the place up and running. Our district officers, who are technical and program staff, they are getting out to the communities. I know that, while they go through a couple of community tours, regional tours, that we did promote getting our district offices technical staff and program staff out to promote the programs, and this is going to be something that I am sure we will have discussions on with the LHO meeting, as well as the Northern Housing Summit. I am really praising this Northern Housing Summit only because it is going to be an opportunity for everybody to see the program, services, challenges, and barriers that we have and work on how can we address them together. Northern solutions for northern housing. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Mr. McNeely.
Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. Are there any development funds available to hire a consultant to go to the communities? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. As I mentioned earlier, the community support initiative, I mean, working with leadership, they can look at applying for that type of spending. As I said earlier when the Member asked a question in the House, that is a program that we need to promote and get out there so communities know that they can apply on this and look at addressing some of their housing priorities, but there are some of their housing initiatives, as well. Under the CMHC funding, there is Seed funding to develop proposals. Like I said, Mr. Chair, all this information will be provided once we get to this Northern Housing Summit, and as I mentioned to the Member earlier that we would be more than willing to reach out. We have met with Deline. We have also met with Fort Good Hope staff, but this is something that we want to get out to everybody across the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Next, we have Mr. Nakimayak.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just a few questions. The Minister is talking about this housing summit. I would just like to express a little bit of concern. Over the last couple of years, we have had some high winds in my region and it blew off a couple of roofs. I am just wondering if, when we get to talk about this housing summit, maybe we need to look at the types of houses that have been constructed in the region, more for stability. As I mentioned earlier in this sitting, we talk about climate change in the summertime, but we don't really talk about it in the winter, and the durability of construction of government infrastructure. I think this is a good opportunity to grow on that and use examples of some of the partnerships that have been formed to help enhance that and enhance housing across the territory. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. To those units that were affected, I know they were built by us and built to stand, but you can never predict when you can get 140-kilometre winds that are going to have an impact on, in some cases, our aging units, so moving forward, we need to address that. I know the Member asked questions in the House earlier this sitting, and as we move forward with our community housing plans and our relationship with the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, these things do need to be taken in consideration because I know, in the last couple of years, Paulatuk in particular, the coastal communities have really been seeing a drastic change in the weather. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I will look to my president for more detail.
Thank you. Mr. Williams.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. You know, the Member, he asked a question about the summit. I think this housing summit is long overdue. It is going to be an opportunity to share good information to all the parties, how to invest into housing. You know, we have to take advantage of this co-investment fund. It is 75 percent federal dollars. It would be remiss if we don't, and we have nine years to take advantage of that money, so, you know, that is an opportunity there.
We are trying to flesh out the agenda for this summit. We want to have a really good, professionally done program, designs for northern conditions. You know, we could learn from the Inuvialuit. Actually, the last six-plex they built was their own design, that NAPEC did, and they took into consideration traditional knowledge and other avenues. So, you know, we invited our Nunavut and Yukon sisters to come visit, as well, and they could share some of their experiences on design. So this summit is going to be a good one, and it is going to be an information-sharing one for everybody. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Mr. Nakimayak.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate that information. That is very well noted. When we look at housing, when we look at partnerships, or any, it could be on co-management. Look at the co-management we have with wildlife and environment and housing. It is probably one of the most key in all the regions of the Arctic. I think what we need to do or even maybe think about bringing to the table is that, you know, are our Indigenous governments willing to become landlords so that we can maximize the dollars, the contract services, the maintenance, and help Indigenous groups become more self-determining so that we can improve? I think it is going to take that. Otherwise, if it is just the government alone, then we are not going to succeed. It is going to be a one-sided game and everybody is going to lose. I think we need to really inform ourselves so that we can actually become more of a team, even though we have differences and there are some agreements with the federal government and with the Government of the Northwest Territories.
I think, you know, looking at apprenticeships, we have apprentices in a lot of the communities. In my hometown, there are a couple, and I am very proud of them, and they become housing maintainers. I think we need to look at possibly even having electrician apprentices and plumbing apprentices so they can actually help within the community and other services to break down costs. Anyway, my question is to the Minister and his team: are they going to look at that and put that on the table to make a plan, a long-term plan? It could be a 20- or 30- or 50-year plan to ensure that we are taking care of our people, as well, too. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Minister.
. Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I agree with everything the Member has mentioned. In terms of apprentices, definitely, we need to do that. On the other side, we are looking at working with homeowners through our LHOs and through our technical and maintenance staff to address some of the maintenance shortfalls that some of the contractors might not take in some of the communities. In terms of being landlords, we need to start those discussions, and I think those discussions will need to be started at this Northern Housing Summit. It's got to start at some point. You know, regardless of if any of our Indigenous governments take on public housing or get into those agreements with us, I will just let Members know that the NWT Housing Corporation will always be here to support housing for our residents, but we do need to make sure that we start those discussions. Thank you.
Thank you. Mr. Nakimayak.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. That is all I have for right now. I appreciate the responses. Thank you.
Thank you. Round two of questions, starting with Ms. Green.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I wanted to follow up the last response I was given by Mr. Martin. I asked him for a breakdown of the $3.6 million that would be spent under the new housing bilateral agreement in the next fiscal year, and I understood part of his answer was that there would be an expenditure of $1.5 million on modernization and improvements. On page 373, the budget actually shows a decrease of $751,000 in spending, so maybe he can tell me why those numbers are not adding up. Are they not referring to the same thing? Thank you.
Thank you. Mr. Martin.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, we actually incorporated in that base budget adjustment in 2018-2019, and that was as part of that initial allocation under the bilateral agreement, for modernization and improvement. Now, subsequent to that, though, there have been other adjustments in the modernization and improvements area, and one of the larger adjustments there is a $400,000 reduction associated with the decline in gain on disposal of assets, and I will explain that. That is a revenue adjustment that we had to implement in our fiscal framework. Historically, if you look at the revenue schedule, we were targeting about $800,000 a year for gains on sales of assets. However, over the last few years, we have noticed that, the Housing Corporation, the assets that we are now dealing with are aged assets and we are no longer realizing these gains on sales in these situations. So we had to adjust the fiscal framework, and where we adjusted it was in the modernization and improvement category. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you. Ms. Green.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. So what I am hearing, then, is that the $1.5 million from the bilateral agreement is not really $1.5 million; it's more like $750,000 once it's plugged into all of the other variables. Is that correct? Thank you.
Thank you. Mr. Martin.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That is correct. There are a number of ins and outs associated with this particular line item. Thank you.
Thank you. Ms. Green.
