Debates of March 29, 2004 (day 10)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am going to ask some questions today of the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation. I will take up where my colleague, Ms. Lee, asked some questions in the House on Friday. I read through the Hansard and, to be quite honest, I was not satisfied with the responses the Minister provided. So I would like to ask some further questions, Mr. Speaker.

I am just wondering how long the Minister and the government have known about the need for market housing at the community level in the Northwest Territories. I would suspect I could almost answer that question for the Minister, that they've known for a long time, Mr. Speaker, that it is a need. I want to know what efforts the government has made to work with the manufacturing industry here in the Northwest Territories to get this project going, or if they've even done it at all. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation. I heard two questions, Mr. Minister.

Return To Question 101-15(3): Supporting The Manufacturing Industry In The Northwest Territories

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the initiative for market rent housing in the communities has been around for some time, as the Member has answered in response to his question.

---Laughter

The issue has been raised in a number of different reports, and the Special Joint Committee on Non-Tax-Based Community Affairs had heard this concern in their consultations in the different communities, also the Members of the Social Programs committee of the 14th Assembly raised it and stressed that something had to be done. So the issue is not a new one. It is something that we are finally attempting to rectify. We know there is a huge need out there. As to consultation with the manufacturing community, I don't have that detail. I will commit to finding out who was contacted and see if I could release that information. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 101-15(3): Supporting The Manufacturing Industry In The Northwest Territories

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would suggest that the Minister undertake to find that information out. If I could quote the Minister from Hansard last Thursday, "Our time frame right now hasn't allowed us to deal with the value-added, built-in-the-north issue." That's a direct quote from the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation. They haven't worked with the manufacturing industry here in the Northwest Territories. Are we supporting the manufacturing industry in the Northwest Territories or aren't we? By waiving the BIP I don't believe we are. I want to know, Mr. Speaker, how much has this government spent on propping up our fledgling manufacturing industry here in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 101-15(3): Supporting The Manufacturing Industry In The Northwest Territories

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't have an answer to how much was spent in the manufacturing industry over our history. However, Mr. Speaker, I want to point out that we are looking at and we are meeting with developers that have come forward. We have talked to the Construction Association that is willing to look at this as an opportunity to look at a made-in-the-north solution.

We have a number of different ways we can attempt to deal with it. The bottom line, however, does not change; that we have to have units in the communities that we can provide at affordable market rate, competitive rent. Failing that, we would not be able to move forward. We have done a survey with many boards and agencies in the communities, we had questionnaires sent to the private sector companies in non-market communities to assess the size of the dwellings needed, the type of structure, the number of units required and other housing factors. We have to realize that there is a need.

There is more exploration needed in this issue. We certainly have heard the Members in Committee of the Whole about their desires for this to be handled within the Northwest Territories, and we will continue to talk to the developers, the Association of Communities and the Construction Association, and look at different ways. If it means going with smaller units, if it means pilot projects, we're willing to look at that. Thank you.

Final supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 101-15(3): Supporting The Manufacturing Industry In The Northwest Territories

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for his response. I don't agree with the Minister. I think the government hasn't done enough to work with the manufacturing industry here in the Northwest Territories, and I want to ask the Minister will he put the brakes on this tender that closes this Friday so the Housing Corporation can in fact work with the manufacturing industry here in the Northwest Territories, so the jobs stay here and the money stays here, instead of going south? If it closes on Friday, it will go south. We'll lose the money, we'll lose the jobs. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

----Applause

Minister of the Housing Corporation, Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 101-15(3): Supporting The Manufacturing Industry In The Northwest Territories

Mr. Speaker, once again, I would like to make the Members aware that if I go through the request that the Member is making, to stop this process, that would mean no units in the communities for this year. We have huge pressure from the different organizations, from the different communities, to do something and do it quick. I would also like to point out that the tender process is open to northern bidders, and if it comes down to me saying whether or not I would defer these units, these modular homes into the communities, I would have to say no. Thank you.