Debates of August 22, 2007 (day 15)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask a couple of questions of the Minister responsible for FMBS, Mr. Roland. This regards the lease that our government supplies for the Rockhill Apartment building with the YWCA organization here in Yellowknife. The Y puts this building through very good use. It is part of a front-line social services infrastructure for families in need, emergency housing and transitional housing.

Mr. Speaker, the lease for this -- I believe it is a 10-year lease -- expires in May of 2008. The Y has been engaged for some time now in discussions with as many as five different departments of this government on the terms for renewing this lease. I brought it up in this House since June of 2005 with Ministers Dent and Roland and have, at various times, been assured that there is a process underway.

Mr. Speaker, with less than a year to go now before this lease does expire, could the Minister advise just what is happening in terms of the process to renegotiate this lease and give the Y the certainty that they and this community needs for the Rockhill Apartment? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 180-15(6): Rockhill Apartment Lease Renewal

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the issue of the Rockhill Apartment lease has been discussed through a number of departments, through Public Works, Housing Corporation, Education, Culture and Employment and Health and Social Services, on what needs to be done there. The lease, right now, is held with Public Works and Services. Once the renewal is done, it will be moved to the Department of Health and Social Services. That is ongoing. The process will go. All departments agree that it is something that should be continued. Once we enter into that, there is still a year left in that lease, so work is ongoing. As to actual negotiations, I think that some discussions have happened. In the meantime, departments have been doing their piece to ensure that facility is kept up. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 180-15(6): Rockhill Apartment Lease Renewal

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the answer and the information. I must admit, I am not hearing anything that really substantively moves this along. I do appreciate that when a lot of departments get involved, things get a little less straightforward. Is the lead department the Department of Health and Social Services? Is that who is taking the reigns on this one on behalf of the rest of our government, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 180-15(6): Rockhill Apartment Lease Renewal

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, right now, the lease sits with Public Works and Services. Once the new lease has been signed, it would then transfer to Health and Social Services. So we are working with all departments that are directly involved, Public Works and Services, Health and Social Services and the Housing Corporation, directly. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 180-15(6): Rockhill Apartment Lease Renewal

Mr. Speaker, I know that one of the conditions that is outstanding is that of ongoing maintenance. On the YWCA for instance, this year alone is covering almost $70,000 in unfunded maintenance. This is everything from broken windows to fixing toilets and the kind of things that happen in a high traffic, high use building. Mr. Speaker, will any department or which department be looking at covering the Y for this very substantive and unfunded cost of operating that building? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 180-15(6): Rockhill Apartment Lease Renewal

Mr. Speaker, that is an area that needs to continue to be worked on. Right now, again, a number of departments are involved with the organization and some of the expenses, and that would be Education as well as the Housing Corporation and Public Works, for some of its maintenance. It has done maintenance that it hasn’t actually billed for. As well, when you look at it, the fact that there has to be a grant-in-kind registered on the books for the department that does enter into this lease. So there are significant dollars being put to that facility as well as capital or renovation work that is ongoing. Thank you.