Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Thank you. If the district office was situated in Behchoko or in one of the Tlicho region, we can really access their services. So can the Minister explain what happens to elders, especially those elders who are living on fixed income who are in arrears with Housing NWT, what happens to those elders when their files are handed over to the rental officer? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I talked about a motion that was passed on March 8th, 2023, for the government to stop garnishing elders and Indian residential school survivors' pension to pay for arrears. My first questions, Housing NWT collection policy states any tenant whose rent is overdue by two months should be filed with the rental officer for an order to pay arrears. Can the Minister explain the process Housing NWT follows when an elder on a fixed income has fallen into arrears? Thank you.

Thank you. It's good that, you know, for them to review that. Okay, can the Minister commit to transferring North Slave housing office from Yellowknife that specifically deals with Tlicho communities to provide better services to people, especially the elders who are faced with many challenges. And I've said this many times. Thank you.

What I said is right now what the housing is doing is that Housing NWT repairs program requires seniors to contribute 10 percent of repair costs, which is $1,000, if they are making $59,000 or more. So what I'm telling the Minister is that would the Minister commit to reviewing the income threshold for the repair program?

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] Mr. Speaker, I'm going to be questioning regarding the elders' housing. Mr. Speaker, population [Translation ends].

We also know that the majority of older seniors, those seniors who are no longer working age, are mostly Indigenous. We also know, Mr. Speaker, as seniors age so does the number of households that require major renovations. Mr. Speaker, many of our Indigenous elders are living in homes with disrepair or beyond repair.

Mr. Speaker, what are we doing to help our retired elders, those who have made the NWT their home their entire life? How can we...

From the rental officer, I think it goes to the court. The collection policy states that arrears should be given where collection is not possible, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister explain why elders living on pensions or retired fixed income who are behind on payments cannot have their arrears forgiven?

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That's good to know. Can the Minister explain what supports are in place for elders to avoid their files being handed to the rental officer. Are there any extra supports in place for elders on fixed income? Thank you.

This is in reference to the income threshold. So it's still it's referenced to income threshold. So will the Minister adjust the income threshold for seniors support program based on higher cost of living for elders in small and remote communities? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And well that is good news to hear. That's what the previous Ministers have said. And I still recently, I forward her a letter letters from my constituents, the elders, who are in that situation where they have to pay $1,000, which many of them are saying that they cannot afford, the 10 percent required for repair program, and I just recently send her some. And there are deadline attached to those. So can the Minister allow the 10 percent equity in the seniors repair program to be paid in installment by clients, because it is still in place. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one day this is going to be all of us in here, okay? So right now the Housing NWT repair programs require seniors to contribute 10 percent of repair costs if they earn $59,000 or more. Would the Minister commit to reviewing the income threshold for the repair program? Thank you.