Mr. Speaker, the new public housing rent scale is scheduled to be implemented on July 1, 2012. We recognize the changes we are making are significant and there will be an adjustment period for all tenants.
As you know, there have been concerns expressed about the impact of the changes on seniors who reside without others in the house and often live on fixed income. These seniors have been paying zero rent under the old rent scale, but were to pay between $70 and $80 minimum rent using the new rent scale.
In recognition of the concerns that have been expressed, I am instructing the NWT Housing Corporation to implement an approach where seniors that live without other adults in their home would have the rent increase resulting from the new rent scales phased in over a two-year period.
The new rent scales will proceed as planned on July 1, 2012. However, for those seniors that reside in public housing that were paying zero in the past, 50 percent of any rent increase will be in effect on September 1, 2012, and the full impact of any rental increase won’t come into effect until July 1, 2013.
Mr. Speaker, the new rent scale has many benefits for residents of the Northwest Territories. The approach makes public housing rent simpler, more predictable and fairer, and addresses the long-standing concern over the disincentive to work. I am pleased that we will be implementing this change that will benefit so many NWT households on July 1, 2012. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Abernethy.
