Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation as well.
I talked in my Member’s statement about flexibility of programs. The lack of flexibility is, I think, a problem across the government as a whole, not just the Housing Corporation. But there are certainly certain areas within the Housing Corporation where the programming lacks flexibility.
I highlighted in my Member’s statement one example where the programs are set up in such a way that it doesn’t encourage tenants to go back to work or take advantage of short-term employment opportunities or even, in some cases, longer term employment opportunities, because they feel that they get penalized almost immediately. As soon as they start collecting money, the rents pop up to maximum rents, or lowered, depending on the amount of money they are bringing in. Regardless, often it is better for them to not work and maintain a stable life than to work and have to get hit with so much financial expense immediately.
Has the Housing Corporation done any research into the program, especially this particular program, about rent collections to ensure that they have some flexibility that will allow them to assess each situation on its own merit and work with the clients that have arrears, that don’t have arrears, so that they can maximize work opportunities and not fall behind but get ahead for a change? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The honourable Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation, Mr. McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is an argument that we’ve heard a lot of across the Northwest Territories and all my visits to the communities saying that the rent is a disincentive to work. We hear stories where folks have been paying $32 a month, they get a seasonal job, their rents increase for the time they’re working and that is a policy that the LHOs are following. I’ve had some discussions with senior officials, but we have to understand, though, that for the amount of time they’re not working and they’re paying $32 a month, we’re subsidizing them a huge amount and during the time that their working is their opportunity to pay back some of the subsidy that they’ve received. Because once they lose their seasonal job, they’ll be down to $32 a month again, and again Housing will be subsidizing them. So it is an argument that we’ve heard a lot of across the Northwest Territories and one that we recognize is a bit of a challenge. Obviously, hearing it so many times, it’s one that we have to look at quite seriously. Thank you.
I hear the Minister and I understand what the Minister is saying, but at the same time individuals who aren’t receiving subsidies, their salaries may change over the year, there may be peak months, there may be depressed months, bills may change, but when I have a month where I happen to make some extra money, I get to put that money where I want. I get to put it towards debts if I choose or I get to buy myself a new guitar if I choose. Whereas these individuals -- and I’m not talking necessarily seasonal, I’m talking really short-term employment opportunities -- when these individuals have an opportunity to get a little bit of money, they can’t get ahead because we take it from them and put it towards their rent right away. I fully understand, fully understand the importance of collecting from people, but it’s important that we give these people an opportunity as well.
So can I get the Minister to commit to researching this situation, to investigating this situation and come to us with alternatives? It may not be the same for everybody. It needs to be flexible. So will the Minister do that for us? Thank you.
Great question.
As part of the rent scale review, I mean, this is one of the things that we were hoping to have a look at, is exactly what the Member and a bunch of other Members, and not just Members, it’s actually people across the Northwest Territories. So it’s a message that we’ve heard and it’s one that obviously we’re going to have to have a look at and see if this is something that we should consider doing. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Your final supplementary, Mr. Abernethy.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I will keep it short. When might we, as Members, and when might the public start to see this research start and when might we see some sort of recommendations coming out of this review? Thank you.
As we speak we’re doing a review of the rent scale right now and this is a discussion I’ve had with senior management over at the Housing Corporation. As for an exact time frame of this particular one, I know we’re hoping to have the rent scale review completed and implemented by April 1st. But as far as the actual questions the Member is asking, I’m not sure of an exact time frame. I will confirm that and I will pass it on to committee. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.
