Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess my concern is that the women's society is trying their best to navigate the CMHC process, the Housing Corp process, they trying to get all of its residents on income support and working with HSS funding. But that is a lot of things to get in line in a short amount of time. It's causing a lot of anxiety and uncertainty for that organization. Is there a path forward where we can get some sort of assurance beyond this September 30th date, that they will continue to operate? For example, if the CMHC funding does not come through, can the Minister of Health and Social Services work with them to make sure there is some guarantee that this continues beyond September 30th? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Yes, thank you. Just to clarify, Mr. Speaker, the reason Health and Social Services is involved in this conversation is that pandemic response money has been funding the Spruce Bough up to this point, and we have a commitment of that money until the end of September. When it comes to working with entities like the Housing Corporation and the CMHC, then the Spruce Bough will need to do that. They don't need the Health and Social Services as an intermediary. So, really, that it all depends on the course of the pandemic in terms of this shortterm funding. The funding was provided in order to give vulnerable people a place to live and, particularly, a place to isolate during the pandemic. If it turns out that there that there is no longer this need because the pandemic has turned into an endemic situation and we don't have access to that funding, then this is where the rub is, and these housing entities need to come in and support the Spruce Bough. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Monfwi
Masi, Mr. Speaker.
[Translation] I'd just like to say, Mr. Speaker, about housing in our in our home communities, about housing, Minister for Housing, I'd like to yesterday I was in Behchoko. I sat with some few members, and I asked or they asked about their condition, their situation that we see. So this is what I'd like to ask the Minister of Housing. The last and I asked the last sitting about there's a few homes that's been just sitting there empty that has been, you know, it's all boarded up. We see that. And some other homes have been completely gone, taken down, it's don't no longer exist so this is why I'd like to ask the Minister of Housing what they're going to do with it. [Translation ends]
Minister of Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Right now, I can confirm that, you know, with the with the units that are unoccupied in Behchoko, we have well, so far have got two that are approved for demolition, and we are working with the Tlicho Government. But just on the size of that, as well, too, that for Behchoko, we have six expansion units that are going to be constructed this year and four public housing replacements in Behchoko that will be put on the ground in the coming months. Also, we have seven major maintenance and improvement projects also that will be taking place and replacement of the local housing authority office. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] yesterday when I went to when I was in Behchoko, I did saw that the way it looks about housing. So when you see houses, some are wood burnt and all boarded up. It's been there, sitting there for the last ten, 15 years, so for a while now that I've been standing here speaking about the housing in Behchoko. When are they going to be able to tear it out and give us a date, a target date, when? Tomorrow? Next week? Or next 10 years, or 15 or so? Give us a date, please. Thank you. [Translation ends]
Sorry, Mr. Speaker, I'm just so into my notes and trying to respond. But I would like go into Behchoko and look at the units that are that we currently do have boarded up because this is the largest community that we do have in the Northwest Territories. We do have a number of public housing units that are in that community. So we have a lot of work that's being done currently with the Tlicho Government looking at the demolition projects or transfer of some of our units as well, too. So looking at that, I would have to get back to the Member with a specific date on those units that would be identified for demolition. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] So thank you very much about coming into our home community. So, again, Minister, when you do see firsthand this is this is called you really know that the way it actually is. So thank you very much that you're going to be going into Behchoko about that. So most homes are not good standing right now because right now I have to say we are forever repeating and stating that the homes are boarding up, are sitting there. It's like when we do get the Ministers and the workers or firsthand to see what is going on in our homeland. Thank you very much. You would be able to see it all. [Translation ends].
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And like I had said before, that I would like to work with the Tlicho Government and the Member as well to identify the units that we can possibly have on our list for demolition this year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Monfwi.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [Translatin] Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So the Minister and also they should be at least maybe three or four from the head office to see because you will know we would be able to work with them. At times, you know when we do speak, it's like we're not going ahead. So this is why when we or the Minister have or the members that are sitting at the head office and see they see firsthand and this is the way we would be able to get things going and moving and working on it right away. [Translation ends].
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just once again, looking at the burnt, abandoned units that, you know, I'd like to work very closely with the local housing authority, as well too the district offices, and see how we could come to a resolution. But also we're putting units on the ground and I think the other discussion we need to have with the Tlicho Government is with the abandoned units and we need to start addressing that issue and how are we going to be doing that. I will have to speak to the government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Hay River South.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to go back to a question from yesterday and questioning the Minister of MACA on funding for the Hay River Ski Club. I want the Minister to understand the importance of sport and the role it plays in building character and providing one with a healthy lifestyle and a sense of purpose. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister provide me with a total amount of proceeds for sports that are received through the lottery sales in the NWT? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't have that level of detail with me. I will follow up with the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it's important that funds raised by retailers in Hay River stay in Hay River. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, will the Minister provide me with a breakdown of the total lottery funds received from each community and where they are allocated with respect to community or aboriginal government, sports club, individual sports, and administration costs. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The information will be provided to the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Hay River Ski Club has received proceeds from lotteries in Hay River for over 30 years. Those Hay River retailers, knowing the importance of sport and the ski club, intended the financial support would continue indefinitely. I would have expected that this government would have acknowledged that and grandfathered the ski club into receiving ongoing annual financial support.
Mr. Speaker, will the Minister explain to me if the Hay River Ski Club and lottery retailers were properly informed of the required changes prior to entering into the fiveyear agreement? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The department did reach out to the nonprofit sport organizations that did have where this agreement had affected them, the fiveyear agreement. With those further details, I don't have that in front of me but I will follow up with the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, like we said yesterday, we are talking about $33,655 annually, which works out to $0.72 per day per member over a sixmonth period. The ski club are very concerned as there is no funding in place for the coming year. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister commit to providing, or at least reviewing how a longer term financial commitment can be made to the Hay River Ski Club as it is essential to their survival? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The department has a number of sport funding pots available to organizations throughout the territory. I highly encourage the ski club to reach out and we will provide that information to provide enough some sort of application support. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corp regarding the Spruce Bough. There's been a number of different applications throughout this. I believe that the Housing Corp is committed to a part of the coinvestment fund and then the Spruce Bough was moved into the rapid rehousing money, and then they were not successful there. And now I believe they are back in the coinvestment fund with CMHC and the Housing Corp is still supporting their 25 percent of that. But can I just get an update from the Minister on where the Spruce Bough is at with regards to getting funding to purchase the asset. Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Minister responsible for Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Spruce Bough had applied for a federal for federal funding. The Housing Corporation, we still do have the 25 percent to support that application but we don't have further details as we are not the we don't hold that federal funding here in the territory. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I recognize that it can be frustrating for the Minister to, you know, try and answer questions about a federal program, but I think everyone has had frustrations with that CMHC funding. I guess more broadly, there were a number of organizations who applied to the rapid rehousing funding. They put together applications. They hired architects. They went quite far along in the process, and they weren't successful. And I believe a number of those were then moved into the coinvestment fund. Does the Minister have any insight as to whether there is another round of federal funding coming or would those applicants ultimately see success or a light at the end of this tunnel? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can continue having the conversation with the federal government on replenishing those federal pots for the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Lastly, Mr. Speaker, I think there are some lessons to be learned here, and perhaps some lobbying to be done by our Housing Corp on the CMHC's processes. And I've even heard that the CMHC ministers complain about some of their processes not working for the North in the past. It's a lot of the reason that the coinvestment money sat there in the first place.
In the Spruce Bough's example, there doesn't currently seem to be a path forward where they can meet the CMHC building standards for green energy and retrofitting despite the fact that people are living there and it's working right now, this the Federal Government, through the CMHC, seems to have an unrealistic target they have to meet to actually get that building operational.
Can I get a commitment out of the Minister that they will review, and probably can lobby the CMHC, to make some changes to make sure that money can actually flow for the reality on the ground? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will be meeting with Minister Hussen next Wednesday, and we will be speaking about replenishing the fund for the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Sorry, Mr. Speaker. We all want to be here today, so there you go.
Mr. Speaker, your Standing Committee on Social Development is pleased to provide its Report on Housing Phase One: Needs for NWT Homeowners and Private Landlords, and commends it to the House.
The Standing Committee on Social Development is pleased to provide a report on the first phase of their housing review, examining issues affecting homeowners and landlords. The review shines a light on the longstanding housing policy issues that have remained unsolved over decades, as well as the growing housing challenges and declining federal and territorial housing dollars.
Committee members recognize the added stress COVID19 has had on the already strained Northern housing sector. Committee members are appreciative of the range of measures the government has provided to support NWT landlords, homeowners, and tenants through the COVID19 crises. Committee members worry housing resources will become even more constrained as demands to support recovery efforts intensify. Committee members feel now, more than ever, strong leadership and action is needed to shape and strengthen the NWT housing sector.
The following report is reflective of the response received from roughly twenty different stakeholders who shared their valuable opinions, experiences, and expertise. The recommendations in the report support the action stakeholders say are needed to increase and improve housing stock, and to decrease longstanding barriers affecting the NWT housing sector. The following recommendations are made to support these views:
Standing Committee on Social Development recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories increase access to titled land to help homeowners and landlords meet financing and insurance obligations in NWT communities.
To ensure clarity in federal and territorial responsibilities related to Indigenous housing, the Standing Committee on Social Development recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories develop a policy and program barrier document to support Indigenous groups overcome barriers to qualify for federal financing programs, like ministerial loan guarantees.
The Standing Committee on Social Development recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories partner with the northern private sector, nonprofit, and Indigenous governments to develop government lease agreements to support access to financing for the development of housing stock and programs.
The Standing Committee on Social Development recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories increase government funding and rental housing stock to provide supportive rental housing programs for vulnerable populations to have housing and onsite support to remain housed.
The Standing Committee on Social Development recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories work with community partners to create an indeterminate communitybased preventative maintenance program for homeowners.
The Standing Committee on Social Development recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories expand and increase funding to the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation's repair program and decrease program eligibility requirements to reduce the future number of homes requiring major repairs and support solutions for existing homeowners.
The Standing Committee on Social Development recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories implement homeownership programs with personcentered case management to navigate the complex northern housing environment, including mortgage financing, land tenure, and affordable home insurance.
The Standing Committee on Social Development recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories remove interdepartmental policy requirements creating barriers for the applicants to receive the rental accommodation allowance, including requirements to be on the public housing waitlist and the payment of utility arrears.
The Standing Committee on Social Development recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories allow rental allowance to be portable so people can choose where they want to live and so that housing meets their need.
The Standing Committee on Social Development recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories remove interdepartmental policy barriers for homeowners, including requirements to be on the public housing waiting list and the payment of utility arrears. This also includes removing the policy requiring applicants to sell their homes.
The Standing Committee on Social Development recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories develop a program to help homeowners access insurance and work with homeowners to keep costs low.
The Standing Committee on Social Development recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories expand and develop the current home insurance benefit allowance to support future and existing homeowners.
The Standing Committee on Social Development recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories provide a response to the recommendations contained in this report within 120 days.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Great Slave, that Committee Report 1619(2) Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Housing Phase One: Needs for the NWT Homeowners and Private Landlords be deemed read and printed in Hansard in its entirety. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Motion is in order to the motion.
Question.
Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Any abstentions? Motion is carried.
Carried
The report is deemed read and booked in the Committee of the Whole. Report of standing and special committees. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Great Slave, that Committee Report 1619(2), Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Housing Phase One: Needs for NWT Homeowners and Private Landlords be received and moved into Committee of the Whole for future consideration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Motion is in order to the motion. Motion has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Any abstentions? Motion is carried.
Carried
The report will be moved into Committee of the Whole once again. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 99(4) to have Committee Report 1619(2) moved into Committee of the Whole for further consideration later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you. The Member is seeking unanimous consent to have waive to move the report into Committee of the Whole today. Are there any nays? There are no nays. It will be moved into Committee of the Whole today. Thank you.
