Thank you, Madam Chair. Looking at, I guess, maybe refurbishing the current stock that we have, because we do have aging public housing units, this is an initiative going forward. I'm going to have Mr. Carpenter elaborate on the program. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. Carpenter.
Thank you, Madam Chair. We do have an agreement with CMHC that provides operating money for our public housing units. It doesn't apply to all of our public housing units; there are some units we operate on our own, with funding we receive from the government. It's a complex process, if there is CMHC money involved in a unit we're trying to sell, but we work our way through it in the best interest of the client. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Carpenter. Member for Nunakput.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, just in regard to that, I mean, when we were looking at the broader picture in regard to the planning of new housing units going into the communities, I think what they should be doing with the Minister is coming into the community. The housing stock that they do have, like, you know, we buy a lot of doors, we buy a lot of windows to try to keep those places warm. Like I said before, 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s; some of our units, we have old units in my riding. So the monies that they are putting forward and the house planning that they do have, they should be looking at replacing; not so much replacing, but getting units that are needed in the community, like single or double apartment buildings. That's more of a comment. I thank you for the work that you're doing; thank you.
Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I wanted to just conclude with the Member's comment. That's the purpose of our community plans, is to identify the core needs and the needs within their community, and what it is that they want us to build within their community. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Just in regard to CMHC funding and the declining O and M support, I'm wondering, for a long time, now, we have held the cap of housing units within the Housing Corporation at the 2,800-unit mark. I'm wondering if there is an appetite from the Housing Corporation to review that number and figure out how we could go about increasing the amount of public housing that we do have within the Northwest Territories, because we know that we are not meeting our housing needs currently within the Northwest Territories. Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Member, for your comment. I do realize that we do have the 2,800 units, and it just looks as if it's a cap, but I don't want to look at that. We're looking at the home ownership program and we're wanting to, I guess, recycle those units and move forward from it. The co-investment fund plays a significant role in this, so, looking at Indigenous partnerships and stakeholders that we would be able to partner with them and create more units going forward. I will pass the comment on for further clarification to Mr. Carpenter. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. Carpenter.
Thank you, Madam Chair. The real answer on why we haven't expanded is cost. It's very expensive for us to operate and maintain a public housing unit. It typically ranges around $20,000 a year. We do need more. Our waiting list across the territories for public housing is over 950 right now. As I said before, our programming is different for major centres, as they have other housing options that might be available to people. Where we are really stuck is in what we call the rural and remote communities, the small communities where there are limited options, there are limited incomes. Right now, we are sitting with about 333 applicants there. We have heard situations where people have sat on that list for a very long time. It is those areas that the Minister has directed us to continue our efforts with Canada as a partnership to try to address that. We haven't really expanded our portfolio since the mid-1990s, so this is something we will have to keep working on. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Carpenter. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I am wondering if the Minister can speak to how the Housing Corporation works alongside the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, given that their housing programming and income assistance programming are really tightly connected from the user's perspective. Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Minister responsible for NWT Housing Corporation.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Within our departments, we see a lot of collaboration going forward. There are a lot of similarities. We do have similarities, as well, with the department of health, and we are working towards an initiative of how we are going to be working with our clients going forward and try to simplify and clarify what programs and services are available to the public. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Just in working with constituents, I have noticed that there is some overlap and there are definitely similarities between the information that we collect from people from a housing standpoint, from a health standpoint, from an income assistance standpoint, but very much so from a housing and income assistance standpoint. I am wondering if there is an appetite with housing to work closely with Education, Culture and Employment to make that access and the reporting structures a lot more user friendly for the client. Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Minister responsible for NWT Housing Corporation.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Absolutely. There is an appetite to work closely with my colleague and looking at the structure programs that we do offer within the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Looking at page 363 under minor modernization and improvements to units, it is notable that that number has significantly gone up this year. What can we expect to see as far as how that will play out in public housing units? Where will that money go? Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Minister responsible for NWT Housing Corporation.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Looking at the significant change in the numbers, I will have Mr. Martin elaborate on the response. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. Martin.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes. We certainly do note that there has been an increase from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021. The areas that were noted, we are setting aside about $1.1 million for additional demolition work in 2020-2021. We are looking at additional investment in minor modernization and improvement repairs for local housing organizations, additional collective bargaining funding for local housing organizations. We are looking at $250,000 additional for designated subcontracts and surveys, which are pre-environmental assessment work, basically, to support our modernization improvement projects. Those are the main increases. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Martin. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Given that some of these improvements are things that will make, hopefully, units more cost effective to run because they are more efficient, will we end up seeing a difference going forward in the cost of utilities for public housing units? Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Minister responsible for NWT Housing Corporation.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I hope we are able to see a difference, indeed, because we do build and we are renovating to be more energy efficient within our public housing units. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you.
[Microphone turned off] ...for the NWT Housing Corporation, community housing services? If not, please turn to page 363, NWT Housing Corporation, community housing services, operations expenditure summary, 2020-2021 Main Estimates, $58,268,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Now, we will be going over to page 365, NWT Housing Corporation, executive, with information items up to 367. Are there any questions under the executive? Member for Hay River South.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Just looking at page 365 where it states that the executive there manages the implementation of the government's direction related to housing services, can the Minister tell me what is the direction she received from this government with respect to delivery of services? Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister responsible for NWT Housing Corporation.
Thank you, Madam Chair. It is within our mandate letter. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Member for Hay River South.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Is it possible for the Minister to expand on that for the people of the NWT to hear? Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister responsible for NWT Housing Corporation.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I am just going to have Mr. Carpenter elaborate on the question. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. Carpenter.
Thank you, Madam Chair. It is really the items that are set out in the mandate priorities, which was increase the stock of affordable housing units of 100 units over four years. We have the transition of 100 individuals to home ownership, increase seasonal part-time employment; developing skills of community trade people; increase availability of childcare spaces, I suppose; increase supports for seniors; and improve services for individuals with addictions to return to their communities. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Carpenter. Member for Hay River South.
Thank you, Madam Chair. With respect to the strategic and operational direction, has the department put something together in writing with respect to that strategic and operational planning? Is there a plan in place, or are they working on something? Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister responsible for NWT Housing Corporation.
Thank you, Madam Chair. We are working towards our annual business plan right now. It is not complete. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Member for Hay River South.
