Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Tsiigehtchic is scheduled to receive two new public housing units. These units are much needed in the community as always. We are glad to see investments in adequate, affordable housing in our region. But community members are asking, where are these houses? There are only a couple of crates and blocking, and no one in the community has been offered a chance to work on these units. In recent years, the housing corporation has shifted away from stick-built homes to modular housing units that are constructed in the south and trucked or barged into our northern communities. Maybe there are some advantages to this. But in this situation, the modular units were built in Alberta, I believe, put on a truck, and sent towards Tsiigehtchic, only to turn back somewhere in B.C. The trailers were too wide to be allowed to go any farther. Now, my understanding is that the modular units will be barged into Tsiigehtchic later this year.
This mistake has delayed the project and has increased its overall costs significantly. It could have easily been avoided. It also raises some important questions. How much are we really saving? Trucking modular homes into communities may seem efficient, but is it always that much more cost effective than bringing in supplies, hiring local companies to build these houses, bringing in much-needed business to the region, and providing opportunities for local journeymen and apprentices? Are southern-built modular homes ready to withstand the harsh weather conditions in our remote communities? This recent issue causes concern that we are not making the most of our opportunities to bring business north or getting the best value for money, especially when we are paying to ship these units twice.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ll have questions later for the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.
