Debates of February 24, 2005 (day 43)

Qujannamiik, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You may have noticed that we are having a theme day on housing today. I will be speaking on the need to educate public housing tenants, who may have the financial ability to own their own home, on the dangers and pitfalls of purchasing their unit from the NWT Housing Corporation.

Over the last few years, Mr. Speaker, the NWT Housing Corporation has decided to sell off a number of their older units to those tenants or persons who can afford to maintain their own home. I know of a few elders in Nunakput who have taken on the responsibility of these units, Mr. Speaker.

The Housing Corporation has held a number of workshops for the local housing authority tenant relation officers in their regions and in Yellowknife. Mr. Speaker, the most important thing we have to do is make sure tenants are educated as to the true costs of running a household, paying a mortgage and paying for ongoing maintenance. I know there are a number of people in serious financial trouble because they did not understand the ramifications of signing a long-term mortgage.

Mr. Speaker, these people have told me that it might have worked if the program advisors did an adequate job in explaining that they will be totally responsible for the costs of the mortgages, land leases, taxes, fuel, electricity, water and sewer and ongoing maintenance costs. The point I’m trying to make, Mr. Speaker, is that all the new housing programs in the world will not work if there is not an adequate counselling and education program in place.

Mr. Speaker, we need to do more training of the staff at the local housing authorities, the district offices and headquarters to make sure everyone is adequately trained and ready to effectively counsel and educate public housing tenants who may be ready to move into homeownership. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause