Thank you, Madam Chair. If I'm in the wrong section or off topic, please let me know. With respect to the MMIs on page 363, we are looking at a revised estimate for 2019-2020. It went up in 2020-2021 by $2 million. Can you elaborate on that? Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister responsible for NWT Housing Corporation.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I see there has been an increase in this section. I'm going to have my director of finance respond to the question.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. Martin.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, there was a $2.2-million increase from the 2019-2020 Main Estimates to the 2020-2021 Main Estimates. This is primarily explained by a couple of adjustments here. The first larger one is we have set aside $1.1 million in that budget to support additional demolition work in 2020-2021. We have particularly one larger building that we have to demo, expect to demo, in 2020-2021 that we will have to address. That's one larger item. We also increased modernization and improvement funding for local housing organizations in 2020-2021. That was an increase of approximately $200,000. We also added in $300,000 for LHOs, for additional collective bargaining requirements associated with the increases from the last collective bargaining agreement. We also set aside an additional $250,000 for designated subs and surveys, which involves environmental assessment work that has to be completed in advance of modernization and improvement projects. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Martin. Member for Hay River South.
Thank you, Madam Chair. With respect to demolishing buildings, what's the criteria for that? Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister responsible for NWT Housing Corporation.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I see that this is an aging stock that we do have, and we do monitor the life of the buildings. I'm going to have the director of finance.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. Martin.
Thank you, Madam Chair. The Housing Corporation undertakes a routine assessment of all of our own assets each year. We conduct unit condition ratings. For those assets that have essentially reached the end of their life in terms of age and condition, we would then identify those assets as surplus units, and then they would be integrated into our unit-disposition plan for the year and coming years. That's essentially how we identify housing assets or buildings that are in need of demolition. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Martin. Member for Hay River South.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I take it it's based on age, so it's a good thing they're not looking after health. Another question I have is: you mentioned selling material within the communities; has the department talked to local businesses to see if they were able to take that on? Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. The Housing Corporation emphasizes on local businesses, and I'm going to have Franklin Carpenter elaborate on this approach. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. Carpenter.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Before we even start that initiative of selling materials and services, we are going to reach out to the local contractors to make sure we're not intruding on their business opportunities there. We're thinking of more isolated communities that are only accessible by air, where we'd need something immediately. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Carpenter. Member for Hay River South.
Thank you, Madam Chair. The next area is to do with apprentices. I see that you have a few dollars in there for apprentices within the organization. Does the NWT Housing Corporation draw down on any of the financial support that ECE provides with respect to apprenticeships? Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. We do emphasize on apprenticeships within the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. We do work with ECE, as well, but then we do support the apprenticeships going forward, that are working within the local housing authorities. I'm going to have Jim elaborate on it a little bit more so he could determine how much we've invested into the training that has happened within the territory. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. Martin.
Thank you, Madam Chair. The Housing Corporation does maintain and support an apprenticeship program. This is a program that is separate and distinct from ECE's programming. The Housing Corporation sets aside the approximate $861,000 each year, and we utilize those funds to support approximately 12 apprenticeship assignments within our local housing organizations. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Martin. Hay River South.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I just want to go to contract services. I understand the Housing Corporation uses a number of contract outfits to do the work on the units. I also understand that there is something in place, a suspension list for some of the contractors who do work for the Housing Corporation. I am just wondering what the criteria is to get on that suspension list. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. We do have contractors within the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation who have defaulted on our projects, but we continue to work with local hire and small businesses. With the suspension list, I am going to have Franklin elaborate on that a little more. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. Carpenter.
Thank you, Madam Chair. For a contractor to be suspended by the Housing Corporation is really a last resort. We make every effort to work with them to take corrective action on whichever contract they are involved in. However, if it comes to a serious point where it's impacting our clients, whether it's safety issues or heating issues or something like that, we will follow the steps and verbal warnings to written warnings and then place them on a suspension for a certain time period. We always encourage and work with those contractors on the way they could get back the ability to do our work by demonstrating. We will probably give them some small contracts after their suspension period. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Carpenter. Member for Hay River South.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I am curious to know with respect to that: you are in a small community. You've got limited number of people there, looking after the projects with limited experience. To get on that list, I am wondering: if it is an issue with heating, do you have a heating specialist there? If it is to do with electricity, does the same guy who has the heating expertise decide whether it is electrical or whether it is carpentry or whatever? I am just trying to figure out who actually makes that call when it comes to the actual suspension. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I understand the question that we do have people working in the isolated communities and the determination of the quality of work that is being presented. We do have technical advisors at the district level who do follow up with the contracts. We do educate and support them through the lifetime of the contract. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Next on my list is Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.
Thank you, Madam Chair. One of the questions, I know that it was brought up under the minor modernization and improvement because it jumped, the large infrastructure. Can the Minister confirm where that large infrastructure is?
Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I will just have the vice-president for finance and infrastructure services to respond. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. Martin.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes. The large building that we have on the radar at this time for demolition next year is the Inuvik Sydney Apartments. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Martin. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Knowing what we know, that we have a shortage of single units and possibly a lot of people who could afford single units at a market rent, was there ever an opportunity to put this building up for sale first, before demolition? Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I am familiar with the Sydney Apartments that you are speaking of. That it did end up becoming an item that was up for sale at some point. We did think of an initiative to going forward and working with that building, and we did recognize that there is a need for one-bedroom apartments. I will have Acting President, CEO to respond. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. Carpenter.
Thank you, Madam Chair. As Mr. Martin has mentioned, we do have a budget set aside to demolish that property. However, we have heard there might be some interest, so we are going to go out one last time and advertise it, see what response we get. If we don't get a response to repurpose that building or reuse it for some other reason, we will proceed down the demolition route. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Carpenter. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Since we are going down that area, I know in my community, there are other units that are on the future to be demolished. I am just wondering. I know some time ago, the same units, they did sell. The lots sold. Families are still living in those units that are privately sold. I am just wondering if there is a reason why those units haven't been put up for sale, as well. I am looking at the multi-builds that are down in my riding. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I just need clarification. Are these vacant, multi-built houses in the Member's riding? Is that clear?
Thank you, Minister. Member.
