Debates of August 22, 2007 (day 15)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. I want to commend the Minister in terms of some of the hard work that his department, plus Members from this side, worked on the review of the Income Support Program review. The question I have for the Minister is in terms of supporting the goal of this government to provide meaningful tools to have our people be self-reliant. Is there sufficient flexibility within his department to have eventual assessments to look at the rent assessments to phase-in approach to people who are using these social housing units for their well-being? Is there a phase-in approach and is there flexibility? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 173-15(6): Social Housing Rent Assessments

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As rents are changed by local housing authorities, that should have no significant impact on the amount of money that it costs a family to live in that house if they are in financial need, because the amount of subsidy that is provided through the Income Support Program or through the public housing rental subsidy will change according to the family’s assessment. So as rents change, the subsidies might change as well so that there’s an offset. We would hope that that would allow the sort of phase-in that the Member is talking about.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 173-15(6): Social Housing Rent Assessments

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It should change, but it’s not. So I want to ask the Minister, if a constituent of mine working a secure job wants to contribute to society and to family, the rent is $1,100 from nothing from last month. The rent is maximum right now $1,100. How can this program here help this constituent of mine in terms of being self-reliant, because nothing has changed? So again, is there some flexibility in looking at a phase-in approach to assessing the rent to allow them to come to a point where they feel that they could, with confidence, paying with confidence their rent at $1,100? Right now this person can’t. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 173-15(6): Social Housing Rent Assessments

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s hard to talk about a specific case without having all of the details. I will certainly commit to sit down with the Member this afternoon if possible to get the details and ensure that we have both the income support worker and, if necessary, the local housing authority work together to assess the situation this person might be in and see whether or not they’re getting all of the benefits that they were entitled to from this government. Thank you.