Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In February 2008 the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation tabled the Auditor General’s Report on the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation’s Public Housing and Homeownership Programs. This report shed light on many shortcomings in the Public Housing Program and made 11 recommendations addressing three major areas of concern: the management of public housing, the management of the Homeownership Program, and the planning and reporting conducted by the NWT Housing Corporation.
Mr. Speaker, my concern today is that these recommendations have not been addressed. What improvements have been seen in NWT public housing for our Territory? In the NWT Housing Corporation’s response to committee’s report on the Auditor General’s performance audit, the corporation stated: “A key element of the NWT Housing Corporation’s response will be a revised framework for action to be released in early 2009.” The document I am referring to was tabled in October 2008. I have yet to see a revised framework for action that specifically details how the corporation plans to address the recommendations from the Auditor General and, certainly, committee.
Another one of the standing committee’s recommendations was the Minister provide periodic updates on the progress of the implementation of the Housing Corporation’s action plan. The corporation agreed to this recommendation, but we need to clarify what this reporting period will be. What progress has been made in the area of rent collection? What is being done to get LHOs out of arrears? What are the results of renewed and upgraded policies and procedures designed to address issues raised by the Auditor General?
A new formal housing appeal mechanism was scheduled for implementation on April 1, 2009. Is this mechanism working well? In the overall picture, what progress is being made in the corporation’s primary mandate of reducing the number of NWT households in core need from housing assistance?
Mr. Speaker, it is a challenging mandate and I acknowledge that, but we need to make sure they are moving in the direction of our goals. We owe our full accountability to public housing clientele and the people of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.
