Debates of October 19, 2007 (day 2)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, just following up on my previous questions, I would just like to ask the Premier for a commitment here today that he will come back to this House at the next sitting, which I believe is November, and seriously give us some options with regard to the problem with housing, the income reform program and also to make sure that the $30 million, clarify the $31 million that was transferred to ECE for 14 additional positions on top of the subsidy, is it being expended with regard to the way it was originally intended and why is it that there are so many people in arrears in housing now because of it?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. There’s a couple of questions there. Honourable Premier, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 7-16(1): Social Housing Program Delivery Issues

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have committed that once the assignment of portfolios is done, the appropriate Ministers will get up to speed on the particulars within their departments and be prepared to sit down with Members to come up with where things are and answer those questions. When we come back for our next sitting, we will have that information available as to where things are today. More importantly, we need to sit down together as 19 Members to come up with where we think we should be as the 16th Legislative Assembly and that work needs to be done, as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we’ve been sitting around for the last week talking about issues and priorities and I believe this is one of the top issues that has been on all our minds. As a Premier, I would suggest that one of the first things you do is clearly look at reforming this program back to the way it was when it was working. The subsidy was being implemented; every homeowner or income support person was able to access that program and we didn’t say sorry, you’re drinking, you’re late for your appointment, walk the streets for three months and…

Do you have a question, Mr. Krutko?

Supplementary To Question 7-16(1): Social Housing Program Delivery Issues

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Premier that he does make this a priority, come back to the next sitting in this House and have some answers as to how he sees government making a difference in this program.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 7-16(1): Social Housing Program Delivery Issues

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the commitment I made is we will get back to Members when we get back for our next sitting, or sooner if we can, when committees are set up in specific areas and dealing with specific departments. Ultimately, we need to sit down, as I stated earlier, and look at whether the program is working. There are enough Members here who recall the reason this initiative was taken is there were numerous complaints across the territory. The Housing Program, subsidy levels were not working. They needed to be changed, so we started that work in earnest to try to come up with a package that would work and creating a level playing field for people across the playing field. Clearly, there are issues in communities now as this has happened. So we will have to take a look at that. We will be prepared, with the time limit we are in, to come up with information as to where it is this day and be prepared to sit down and start working with Members. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Short supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Supplementary To Question 7-16(1): Social Housing Program Delivery Issues

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with regard to the program itself, I would also like to have the Premier look at the 14 positions that were also handed over to ECE because they said they didn’t have the capacity. Because of that, it seems like the program has been a crisis ever since. I assume that because of that, we don’t have the capacity and we are not delivering it right. So I would like to ask the Premier to also look at that.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Mr. Roland.

Further To Question 7-16(1): Social Housing Program Delivery Issues

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I stated earlier, I have committed that we are going to have a look at this and that will be part of the review.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Short supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Supplementary To Question 7-16(1): Social Housing Program Delivery Issues

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I hope it’s more than just looking at it; I hope that he’s going to come back with something that’s solid, that gives us some options and we’re able to act, as a government and as 19 Members, to make a difference to the people of the Northwest Territories.

Right away!