Debates of May 27, 2021 (day 74)

Date
May
27
2021
Session
19th Assembly, 2nd Session
Day
74
Members Present
Hon. Diane Archie, Hon. Frederick Blake Jr., Mr. Bonnetrouge, Hon. Paulie Chinna, Ms. Cleveland, Hon. Caroline Cochrane, Hon. Julie Green, Mr. Jacobson, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Lafferty, Ms. Martselos, Ms. Nokleby, Mr. O'Reilly, Ms. Semmler, Hon. R.J. Simpson, Hon. Shane Thompson, Hon. Caroline Wawzonek
Topics
Statements

Oral Question 710-19(2): Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Local Housing Consultations

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to first thank the NWT Housing Corporation for the units that are going into my community this year. It's very much appreciated. Mr. Speaker, my Member's statement expressed concerns with the lack of consultations with the communities by the housing corporation.

My question to the Minister is why is there no consultations with the communities, especially the local housing organizations' board of directors.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Member for Deh Cho. Minister responsible for Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You know, the commitment for the housing corporation is to making sure that, you know, we do work with the Indigenous groups in the specific communities. But acknowledgement letters were sent out to the First Nations I'm not too sure how to pronounce it Deh Gah Gotie First Nations. Yeah. And the Fort Providence Metis Council and the mayor. They were sent letters April 28th just acknowledging what type of units are going into their community and having an opportunity for them to respond to us. But as of today, we haven't received a response. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker, and mahsi to the Minister for that. Specifically, I was asking about the local housings organizations board of directors, because in speaking with them and even the staff, nobody's ever approached them. They never heard of anything.

I'm aware the original plan was for two single duplexes for my community. Now I understand this has changed and now will be constructing a fourplex. That change in plans could delay construction, as new plans have to be drawn up.

Is the Minister aware of these changes and the need for new design plans. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just also want to go back to the original question of the information provided to the local housing authorities. I will follow up on that, and I will follow up with the Member, that should have they been consulted, that they should have been working very closely with the district office.

But the community is going to be receiving a stickbuilt fourplex. And looking at the design, the design has already been completed. But constructing a stickbuilt in the smaller communities creates employment, and I'm really big on employment. And that was the opportunity for the community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker and mahsi to the Minister for that and her willingness to follow up with the LHO. She mentioned stickbuilt, but I was hearing otherwise. There was talk that these units will be sandwich panel construction with the panels being built by a Yellowknife company.

Has there been a cost benefit analysis or cost comparison to determine if this method has significant savings versus stickbuilt construction?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Actually, going with the stickbuilt is a lot more expensive than putting the panelized and the modular homes on the ground. But the opportunity that I wanted to explore was creating employment for the Northwest Territories. Through the delivery of the 60 units that we are working with the Eco Investment Fund, 40 of them are modular, and 20 of them are stickbuilt. And the opportunity, once again, is to create employment in the smaller communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Deh Cho.

Mr. Speaker, and mahsi to the Minister for that. I'm glad that she's understanding construction and creating employment in the communities. That's good. The flavour of this government is about energy savings, to help combat greenhouse gas emissions by incorporating biomass boiler systems.

Will this new building be incorporating wood pallet boiler system. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would have to get back to the Member for that further detail. I'm not sure if we have pellet boiler material available in his riding. I'm not too sure about that. So I'd have to reach out to the Member. Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions, Member for Great Slave.