Mahsi cho, Madam Speaker. I begin with a little tongue-in-cheek today. I’m happy to learn that the NWT Housing Corporation has fixed the leaky faucet that has been dripping in this House for the last eight years. I guess all the comments from myself and Members during that time finally pooled into a flood that could not be denied.
Clients of the corporation now have a Housing Appeal Committee. It is fully independent of the NWT Housing Corporation, as Members and the standing committee recommended during the 16th Assembly. Two public representatives and three senior government employees have been named to the Housing Appeal Committee.
I am pleased to see that Nahendeh is well represented with Mr. John McKee of Fort Liard. Like Mr. McKee, the other appointees have provided distinguished service to the people of the Northwest Territories. Of course, all members of the appeal committee will serve clients of the Housing Corporation across the territory.
The committee’s task is to provide unbiased reviews of decisions of the corporation that clients consider unfair or incorrect. I am also hopeful that they can review past grievances, some of which are over 20 years old.
This is a good way to ensure that policies are justly carried out. I expect that the new appeal committee will prove helpful to all our constituents and may well have the added benefit of suggesting improvements for the Housing Corporation’s policies and procedures.
Applicants for housing and existing tenants will have access to this appeal mechanism. It will also be available to applicants and clients of the Housing Choices home ownership program.
Now that I have acknowledged a positive for the Housing Minister, perhaps I will ask my colleagues to join me in another long-standing issue. If we flick enough pebbles at the Minister of Transportation, perhaps he’ll find enough gravel to fix Highway No. 7. Mahsi cho.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Moses.
