Thank you. Mr. Martin gets to deal with this.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, the Housing Corporation continues to work very closely with the Department of Justice as well as the RCMP. Previous updates provided: we indicated that the RCMP was going through the final stages of their federal approvals that were required. We have gone through numerous meetings, obviously, to get to this point. We were pleased to be advised that the RCMP did bring forward their required submission to the treasury board. We understand that it was supported with a couple of conditions. We are meeting with the RCMP tomorrow, actually, and Department of Justice to review those follow-up conditions, and we are hoping that, once those are satisfied, we will be able to move ahead with construction potentially as early as this spring. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you. Mr. Thompson.
Thank you. Can the Minister make a commitment to committee that they will provide an update once they find out what's going on so committee is aware? Thank you.
Thank you. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. We will definitely make that commitment.
Thank you. Mr. Thompson.
I thank you, and I appreciate the commitment from the Minister. Can that information be public once we find out about it? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I know we have all been eagerly awaiting these agreements, and definitely yes.
Thank you. Mr. Thompson.
Thank you. So, when we were going through Aurora College about housing, has the corporation looked at any ongoing foundational review about that? Have you been looking at that?
Thank you. Mr. Williams.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Certainly, we have a good interest to assist the college moving forward, but we are going to wait until the results of the foundational review. As we move forward, we have had preliminary discussions with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. We are working with them, but, again, the outcome of the foundational review will be critical to move forward. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Mr. Thompson.
The Corporation had plans to dispose of 50 units, 25 through sales and 25 through demolition. Was that goal achieved in 2017-2018? Thank you.
Thank you. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, we have. We have met the disposal rates. We've actually exceeded them. From my understanding, it's 162 disposable units that we met this year. Thank you.
Thank you. Mr. Thompson.
Thank you. That's 162 this year, or 162 since 2017-2018 to this moment in time? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Minister.
Thank you. It's 162 over the last three years, and we've exceeded the 50, and we're continuing to work, meeting those target rates. Thank you.
Thank you. Mr. Thompson.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Can the Minister advise us what the 2019-2020 rates are going to be, demolition and sale? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. We are still focused on targeting for the 50, and, if we do exceed that, we will make sure that Members are aware of what those disposal rates are. Thank you.
Thank you. Nothing further from Mr. Thompson. NWT Housing Corporation, finance and infrastructure services, operations expenditure summary, $14,043,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Moving on to the final activity, programs and district operations. Ms. Green.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. On page 381, I note that the funding for the North Slave district has decreased by $466,000, and I'm wondering, I guess, why and how money is allocated among districts? Thank you.
Thank you. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Martin is our finance guy. He'll probably explain this a little bit clearer than I can, and I'll just go through you, Mr. Chair, to Mr. Martin. Thank you.
Thank you. Mr. Martin.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. There were a couple of factors here that contributed to the $464,000 decrease from the previous mains for North Slave district. The first factor related to the new home program. When you look at the grants and contributions section of this activity, you will note that there has been a decline in the three-year funding allocation for 2019-2020 compared to 2018-2019 for the new home program. That explains that component. Then, there was also an adjustment of $166,000 related to amortization. The Housing Corporation updated its amortization estimates and reflected a reduction and projection for next year of $166,000. Those two factors contribute to the $464,000 decrease. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you. Ms. Green.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you to the witness for that explanation. Of this money that is coming to the territories through the new bilateral agreement, with all the caveats we've previously heard about, how much of this money is going to be allocated to the North Slave? Thank you.
Thank you. Mr. Martin.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Under the bilateral agreement, the Housing Corporation is anticipating receiving about $1.9 million in a home ownership investment opportunity for 2019-2020. For the North Slave district, there will be a similar allocation here of about $320,000. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Ms. Green.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate that information. On what basis was the decision made to allocate $320,000 to the North Slave, of the total available? Thank you.
Thank you. Mr. Martin.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The funds associated with the new home program, for example, are based on a projected level of support under that program. Right now, as indicated, we're estimating about $300,000. However, that could change following the review of applicants under that program. You could have a situation, for example, where there are more dollars allocated to the North Slave at the end of the day. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Ms. Green.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. What is it that would then trigger an increase? What is it about the review of applicants that would trigger an increase? Thank you.
Thank you. Mr. Martin.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Right now, the Housing Corporation is undertaking a review of the new home program applicants, has already approved two, and has an outlook to approve, as indicated, another additional three to five, potentially next year, for other districts or across all districts, ultimately. This is based on assessed applicants, so we could have a situation where, for next year, we may not have approved applicants for the North Slave, for example. It really depends on the intake and the eligibility of the applicants. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you. Ms. Green.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I don't have anything further at this point.
Thank you. NWT Housing Corporation, programs and district operations, operations expenditure summary, $31,760,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
