Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member’s statement I talked about some housing problems faced by the elders in my riding. My question for the Minister is: has the Minister written out any sort of plan to address housing problems as identified in the 2009 Housing Needs Survey. Thank you.
Masi. Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. 2009 is seven years past. It is a little bit outdated. In April, the NWT Housing Corporation is putting out a new survey to all LHOs, all community band leaders, all people in housing to be able to assess what they think is the best options and then we will be developing a plan from that information that we gather. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
That’s rather disappointing. The 2009 Housing Needs Survey is the last survey that was completed by the Housing Corporation and has all of the core needs, by community, laid out in there. Is the Minister actually contemplating doing something different? Changing the way we collect information and then, by going directly to the people, finding out what it is they want? I think the survey does that. Is the Minister actually contemplating a different way of capturing core needs in the NWT?
Yes. I correct myself actually. The 2009 survey is 17 years old. This government has made a priority on transparency and letting the public be as engaged as possible in decision-making. To be able to do that, asking the public what they think is best, and the program users, is what I feel is most appropriate at this time.
Yes, I guess that would be seven years.
---Laughter
In any event, I don't think that it has changed that much, so the question for the Minister is: is the Minister aware that the largest proportion of core need is adequacy?
I do have a flu, so I do apologize. It is actually seven years. My brain is a little bit foggy. Yes, currently it does show that adequacy is the current biggest problem within the regions. But in order to maintain our priorities within this 18th Legislative Assembly, I do think that it is appropriate to go to the communities again and ask them. Before I develop a plan, I want to be as up-to-date and current as I can with the information.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I indicated the problems we are having currently with having people become eligible for housing programs, largely because there are wrong programs out there and in some cases because individuals are just clearly not eligible. They have a core need, but they don't have all the right statistics to fit into the programs the Housing Corporation is currently offering. It is a huge issue. I would like to ask the Minister if they are going to look at programs that will directly address the housing needs in the NWT. Currently, the programs do not address the needs. The core need is not going down by any significant amount. I want to ask that question again. Will the Minister introduce programs that are appropriate to address core needs in the NWT? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Yes. As stated, I do realize that many of the programs are old and many of them might not be appropriate at this time. I adhere to the priority of the 18th Legislative Assembly that says we need to be transparent, and within doing that, then, I believe that the best philosophy is to ask the community and to develop a plan based on what the communities and the people that use the programs say they need.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Hay River North.
