Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In follow-up to my Member's statement, I have questions for the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation. Through my last constituency meeting in the community of Tsiigehtchic, my constituents wanted to know why the Housing Corporation is planning to start bringing in modular homes. For many years, our residents in our communities have built the units in each community, so my question to the Minister is: can the Minister explain why the Housing Corporation has chosen to switch to the shipping modular housing units instead of building basic homes in our communities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi, Member for Mackenzie Delta. Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just to start with now, all market housing within the communities were put out to public tender. All of the market housing that the Housing Corporation are currently contracting with are northern contractors, and they were approved through the Business Incentive Policy. The modulars that you speak of are designed to meet the Housing Corporation design guidelines, as well as national building codes which are the same standards used for stick-built units constructed by the NWT Housing Corporation.
It sounds to me like the department is supporting taking jobs away from our communities, and that's exactly what is going on here. My question is why is the department not building these homes in our communities instead of shipping them from Alberta?
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Actually, within the Business Incentive Policy that the GNWT utilizes, northern manufacturers must not be more than 25 per cent of the cost for the same purchase to be purchased down south. The modular homes actually came in more than that. The difference was actually more like 30 per cent, so there is a cost savings. We have 800 people on our waiting list for housing, so we have to be conscious of where the money goes. The Housing Corporation though, in all honesty, are still using our community members to do the repairs, so we're not forgetting about them. And again, I will remind you that it was a northern contractor that got the contract to purchase the modular homes.
I don't think the Minister realizes the amount of money that's not staying in the community. Mr. Speaker, we're talking in the neighbourhood of at least $100,000 worth of employment that's being taken away from our communities. Usually when we have contracts like this we have, like, five people that are working in the community. Right now, the Minister is talking about one person that's probably needed five years down the road. What is the department’s plan, in the future, for our communities?
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Housing Corporation is actually looking at bringing in a lot more houses within the communities. We're really focusing on single people and couples for a little while because almost 70 per cent of the people on our waiting list fall within that category. We're also negotiating with the federal government, so I'll be meeting with them early next month to see what they're going to bring within their social infrastructure monies. As well, we are guided by the Business Incentive Policy, which all Members can actually challenge and actually look at and make amendments if they would like to. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Final supplementary. Member for Mackenzie Delta.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister mentioned about multiplex units. I hope they don't plan to ship these in as well. We have a lot of positive multiplex units that have been built in the communities over the last few years in our last government. I hope that the department stays on course on those multiplex units. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. I didn't really hear a question there. However, I'll allow the Minister a response.
Yes, actually the department does recognize that the multiplexes are the most energy-efficient way to provide housing, so we are focusing on the multiplex units within communities.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nunakput.
