Robert Hawkins

What portion do they have to pay? Can you explain that in a percentage or is that a flat rate? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I look forward to the defining vote on this issue. I just want to thank the traditionalists who have changed their mind and are willing to give this a try. That is all I will say. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Chairman, what type of auditing is being done on consumption? I have to tell you, I’ve been to different houses through public housing units and if you’re only paying $10, $20...Well, I don’t even know how much some people are paying. I know it’s very low, in some cases, just a few hundred dollars to be there. Sometimes there’s a disincentive to worry about consuming electricity in a reasonable manner, and perhaps on the same ticket would be the usage of fuel and water, when you don’t actually have to pay the real costs. What type of work is done through the local housing authorities to...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that this committee recommends that Members be permitted to use laptops during Committee of the Whole proceedings during the winter 2009 session only, after which their use will be evaluated;

And further, that communication devices cannot be used by a Member who has the floor; and that a Member who has the floor must have his or her laptop closed.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Is that based on some type of policy and, if it is, when did that get instituted? Thank you.

The Minister is right; there are things the tenant can take to the rental officer, such as the heat wasn’t there, the power wasn’t turned on, maybe my lock was changed. But there’s nothing there about fair rent; fair and reasonable. Yes, I believe a landlord should be able to make a profit. Yes, recognizing that oil and power are going up, those things need to be protected, absolutely. But by raising rent at 33 percent, can the Minister explain to me how that would be considered fair and reasonable and what grounds would a tenant be able to challenge this under the existing rental act? Because...

Mr. Chairman, I’m just following the power numbers as well as the heating numbers and the water and sanitation numbers, and what I’m noticing is that water and sanitation seems to be higher than power. I mean, in the bigger picture it looks like the fuel cost is almost identical to water costs. I know it’s less than a million, but when you try to compare apples to apples here in this scenario -- no bananas or oranges this time around -- the costs seem quite significant. Do you do any auditing to find out why water costs and why power costs are so high, and certainly fuel? Thank you.

That certainly puts the average person, whether they’re single income, double income, whatever the case may be, at a significant disadvantage because, as I cited today, they’ve had increases of 16 percent in Yellowknife that have been quite regular over the last few years and certainly have a single example of 33 percent rental increase at an apartment unit. That’s barely affordable if it’s affordable at all. What is the Minister willing to do to put support behind the average family that’s out there trying to rent and get by at the same time?

Thank you. Would the Minister be willing to forward something on that he is able to dig up, to my office, because I have heard from accountants in the community that they are not quite sure that this is a debt that we should be shouldering, considering it is a liability we are carrying on behalf of someone else and they are also paying. I would kind of like to take a serious look at it and to get some information to compare to some information I have been told. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, time is of the essence. The Residency and Tenancy Act does not come open every time to discuss the elements of what it means. Mr. Speaker, the Minister will tell you that landlords can raise the rent only once a year. Of course, the Minister will be right about that fact. I will tell you that the way the law is written today, the landlord has every right to raise the rent to whatever percentage they want to. Mr. Speaker, don’t be fooled. Some do. Mr. Speaker, let’s not call this rent control. Let’s call it fair protection for working families trying to get by. Thank you, Mr...