Debates of October 27, 2004 (day 29)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is in line with all the other Members here on theme day for the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation. Mr. Speaker, I’m looking for a commitment from this Minister. Will this Minister develop a policy that will meet the existing standards based on accessible living for people with disabilities in social housing? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, the Honourable Mr. Krutko.

Return To Question 317-15(3): Housing Policy For Disabled Persons

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I know the Member raised this issue in the House before. We have completed our phase two report with regard to our needs survey. On page 7 of that report, it identifies that we do have 194 dwellings which have been modified for people with disabilities. So we do have that stock in house. Also, I’d just like to inform the Member that we also have programs for people in the private sector who can apply for a grant of up to $25,000 to renovate their units to make them accessible for people with disabilities. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 317-15(3): Housing Policy For Disabled Persons

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate what the Minister is saying about 194 people in our housing. Mr. Speaker, what I’m looking for is a firm commitment on national guidelines, something that is clear cut. Can the Minister commit today that his department will create a policy, be it a booklet or whatever, on national standards and this can be applied to all of our social housing? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 317-15(3): Housing Policy For Disabled Persons

Mr. Speaker, at this time I can’t commit to that because I’m not aware of exactly what standard you’re talking about. I don’t believe that we do have programs and services to assist people with disabilities and ensure that we make them one of our high priorities when they come forward to access public housing. I cannot commit for the private sector or commit for any other agency that’s out there until we know exactly what the cost is of implementing this policy. I’m not aware of that policy, so I’ll have to look into it. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 317-15(3): Housing Policy For Disabled Persons

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will now be looking for the Minister to go over the top from whelming me to overwhelming me. Will the Minister commit that by the new year he will investigate and have a report back on developing a policy based on national standards for our social housing for people with disabilities in regard to accessibility issues? Will he commit to having that done by the new year so we have something once he’s had a chance to investigate it? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 317-15(3): Housing Policy For Disabled Persons

Again, Mr. Speaker, that request is a handful in regard to being able to accomplish all those goals in the short time that you are requesting, but I think it is something that I will definitely promise the Member that I will look into and see exactly where we are with a policy for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation and exactly what the cost to implement such a policy would be.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Your final supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 317-15(3): Housing Policy For Disabled Persons

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ll say thank you, Mr. Minister, for that commitment. Mr. Speaker, I’ll ask for one more commitment from the Minister responsible for Housing in which he did refer to private industry being able to access a pot of funds or a pot of money in order to allow social housing to happen in private buildings. Will he commit to investigate the possibility of applying that policy to anyone who accesses this funding to have those folks in their buildings? Will he commit to seeing that that policy can apply to them as well as in the private industry? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 317-15(3): Housing Policy For Disabled Persons

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in regard to the Member’s question, I do not know. We can’t dictate to the private sector how they run their business. Again, we are a segment of the corporation in the Government of the Northwest Territories to provide social housing in the Northwest Territories, but when you start dictating to the private sector in regard to how they can run their business, we have to ensure that we are following national building guidelines by ensuring that they are able to operate their business without us totally interfering in how they do that. So, again, I will look into it and report back to the Member. Thank you.