Debates of February 24, 2005 (day 43)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to ask my questions to the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation. Mr. Speaker, it seems to be the proverbial debate when it comes to housing; whether or not the mandate of the Housing Corporation is to deliver social housing and incentives, or whether it is to create economic activity and economic development. Over the years, we have, as many other Members have said, tried to hang a lot of extra things on the delivery of housing in the Northwest Territories. We’ve tried to hang on it things such as training, manufacturing, jobs…It has just downright been the government getting into business through the Housing Corporation with funding things like door factories and all kinds of other things which have kind of clouded the picture of what we’re trying to do here. I’d like to ask this Minister for his understanding of this mandate which, it seems, as has been mentioned, may be in the process of being refined. What is the prominent mandate of the Housing Corporation? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Krutko.

Return To Question 472-15(3): Mandate Of The Housing Corporation

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one of the core components of our initiatives is to look at the affordability, adequacy and suitability of housing for people in the North. I think the biggest element of that is affordability. We hear about people trying to get mortgages, people trying to get into homeownership, but the problem that we’re running into is the costs of stick-built homes in the Northwest Territories are excessive. We do have a manufacturing directive that looks at manufacturing products in the North, and in the last 10 years we’ve spent $18 million in that area. All that goes back to the homeowner. I think it’s important that through those three initiatives, looking at the affordability questions, the suitability and also the accessibility for people to be able to access these programs and not have these restraints in place. So right now through the mandate review, those are the three goals and objectives we’re trying to meet through the new mandate change that we’re going forward with.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 472-15(3): Mandate Of The Housing Corporation

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for that answer. It gives me a very clear picture of where he’s going because there is always that debate over more houses for our money or fewer houses, but now adding all these other things onto it. What I want to ask the Minister, is it conceivably compatible that we could deliver more affordable housing while at the same time creating northern economy through it? I think of the market housing initiative, bringing in units from the South. Can we accomplish that here in the North? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 472-15(3): Mandate Of The Housing Corporation

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with regard to the question that the Member asked, as it sits right now, nobody in the Northwest Territories has the certification to provide these types of mobile homes. In order to meet national standards, Canadian National Building Codes, and getting the certification that’s needed to build these units, right now no one has that certification in the Northwest Territories.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 472-15(3): Mandate Of The Housing Corporation

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think it would be ideal to be able to provide affordable housing while, at the same time, creating jobs and economy in the North. Would the Minister, through the Housing Corporation, be prepared to pursue with potential interested parties the possibility of manufacturing certified homes in the North for northerners? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 472-15(3): Mandate Of The Housing Corporation

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe that’s the goal we are facing. We have spoken to respective companies that are considering working in that area. They are companies that are looking at the possibility of establishing such a business. But again, there are proposals that we are suggesting going forward with through the Business Development Corporation, the Business Credit Corporation and working with those other arms of government to help the entrepreneur or the business community that we’ve spoken to companies in Yellowknife and Hay River and also in Southern Canada who are considering making such a move. But again, it has to be economically sound and, at the end of the day, it has to be affordable. We have to develop a product we can afford at the end of the day to sell to our clients. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Final supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 472-15(3): Mandate Of The Housing Corporation

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I agree with what the Minister is saying. I think he has struck the right balance. I think it is possible to create affordable units in the North. Is it currently within the mandate of the NWT Housing Corporation to be able to assist a business to begin with that without going to the Dev Corp or anyone else? Isn’t there already a provision within the mandate of the Housing Corporation to create such an industry in the North? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 472-15(3): Mandate Of The Housing Corporation

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned, there are several initiatives we are working on. One is looking at the mandate of the corporation and we’re hoping to have it ready by April 1st to take to Cabinet. Another area that I touched on earlier is the whole area of developing a northern housing strategy to deal with the federal government. In the federal budget there was a whole bunch of announcements looking at the whole area of conservation and looking at energy-efficient homes and whatnot. We have to build that into our building methods in the North, but also look at access to federal programs. So those are some of the initiatives we are working on.

There’s also another initiative we’re working on with my colleagues in looking at the whole idea of the pipeline and how are we able to access some of that infrastructure that is going to be built, or even have the ability to put this infrastructure together through partnerships or arrangements with communities and industry. Thank you.