Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday I spoke about the NWT Housing Corporation and I specifically mentioned Deline. I would like to do a second part to my issue with the NWT Housing Corporation. This one has to do with specifically how they assess the income for the public housing units in that community.
The people in Deline find it unacceptable how the income is being assessed, and it’s being assessed by the gross income. I have an example here. A person that is living in a public house in Deline gets charged on the gross income, and as part of that gross income this person pays CPP and EI, which they are charged rent on both the EI and CPP. Jobs are not that available sometimes and they get short-term jobs. This person finishes work and applies for EI. Housing asks if he has any income. They declare it on their income, which is their EI, which is about $700 every two weeks. Again, they are being charged on the income, whereas they are already told that the housing that was already charged on the gross income, which EI is included on their rent. This person and the people in Deline feel that Housing is double-dipping on their income and rent.
Another note is that they are also charging the Child Tax Benefit as income. This money should go towards milk, bread, eggs and Pampers, which also goes towards children’s healthy living.
I will have some questions on this issue with the Minister at the appropriate time.
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
