Debates of October 20, 2006 (day 12)

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Today my question is with respect…will be directed to the honourable Premier. Yesterday I spoke about housing issues in the Nahendeh riding, particularly Fort Liard where this particular fall season, when the teachers came they actually had nowhere to go. It just speaks to some of the things that we did hear, too, Mr. Speaker, in our pre-budget consultations; particularly not so much housing for staff, but staff housing. How do we address that? Is the government looking at it and what kind of program would they have for that, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 150-15(5): Lack Of Staff Housing In Communities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We're very aware of some of these issues that appear in some communities, and certainly the issues in Liard have been brought to our attention. Mr. Speaker, there's a couple of things we want to do. One of them, of course, is to give the local leaders in the community more authority to be able to determine how the houses are to be allocated, the sequence for repairing, for replacing and so on. Mr. Speaker, I think it doesn't matter if it's a teacher's house or a house for someone else who's in need of accommodation. We need to have the maximum amount of input from local leaders. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 150-15(5): Lack Of Staff Housing In Communities

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I think I addressed it in writing; I think the government did say that we're not in the business of providing housing for staff, and I can see that there may be some difficulties if they have to provide housing for all staff. But I think one of the ways that other jurisdictions, particularly like B.C., got around it, Mr. Speaker, is they provided temporary housing for staff accommodations. Is that something this government is prepared to look at, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 150-15(5): Lack Of Staff Housing In Communities

Mr. Speaker, certainly one way of dealing with the shortage of housing for teachers and for other staff is to bring in more market housing. We have two units, I think, in Fort Liard. We're prepared to bring more market housing units in if there's demand for it. In the meantime, Mr. Speaker, what we would like to see would be to have, in the community, a housing board and we're working on that with the local leadership. If there's a housing board and teachers need temporary accommodation when they first arrive in a community, then we would like to work that through the local leaderships so they have a say on how the teachers that they need in their communities will be housed even on a temporary basis. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 150-15(5): Lack Of Staff Housing In Communities

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Just in terms of market housing, there was a commitment made by our government to provide a duplex for October delivery in Fort Liard. Is that still underway for the community of Fort Liard, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 150-15(5): Lack Of Staff Housing In Communities

Mr. Speaker, yes, that is still our intention to have that unit delivered this fall; hopefully in November.