Debates of June 6, 2006 (day 6)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question today is to the Honourable Charles Dent, the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. It’s regarding the public housing rental subsidy, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one particular community in my region is having some difficulty in terms of the understanding of this new rental subsidy and it’s causing quite a chaos, havoc for some people. Actually, they’re actually thinking about moving out of these houses. I want to ask the Minister, Minister Dent, if there’s any way that his department can go into Fort Good Hope and talk to people on this rental house subsidy because it’s causing some concern for a number of families there. Thank you.

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

Return To Question 66-15(5): Rental Subsidy Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I’d be happy to arrange to have people from the regional office visit the community at a convenient time for both them and the community to have a public discussion about public housing subsidies.

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

Supplementary To Question 66-15(5): Rental Subsidy Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister then inform the House and the people in Fort Good Hope that some time within the next couple days, I guess, that’s what they’re looking for in terms of having them come in. There are some people that are crying foul here in terms of how this program is being administered. The rent increases have increased in their homes and families are prepared, they’re packing their bags and ready to move out. So can the Minister go in there as soon as possible and explain to the people on this new change in the housing subsidy? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 66-15(5): Rental Subsidy Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ll be in touch with the department immediately to see how quickly we can arrange that. I can’t promise within the next two days, but we will ensure that it happens as quickly as possible. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 66-15(5): Rental Subsidy Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the Minister’s response and I think that’s what the people in Good Hope want to know, is that the department will bring in some people to clearly outline how the housing subsidy is being administered now, because right now they’re seeing a high increase in the rent as when it was administered by the NWT Housing Corporation. So can we stop them from moving out of their houses? Again, I appreciate the Minister to go in there and thoroughly explain, and then can he have a translator also provided at this meeting here? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 66-15(5): Rental Subsidy Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I’ll ensure that the department knows that there needs to be an interpreter/translator available for the meeting and will work to get that done as quickly as possible. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Final supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 66-15(5): Rental Subsidy Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, will the Department of Education and Culture review the public housing rental subsidy initiative next year or so, within the next six months, and see was it a good thing, was it not so bad or is it a good move on our department, or are we serving our people or are we hurting our people? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 66-15(5): Rental Subsidy Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Member knows, we’re in the process of reviewing our income security programs, all of them right now. Over the course of the next six months to a year, yes, we will be looking at all of our programs. But there are some specific aspects of the public housing rental subsidy that we will be looking at definitely in the next six months and one of them is the change in the way that the month is used to determine what your rent is. Previously, the housing associations were using the rent based on, for instance, if you went in on February 28th and said here’s what my income was for the month of February, you were told what your rent was for March 1st and you had to come up with it the next day. The way that we’re trying to do it is we’ll say, well, if your rent was this much for February, that’s what your rent will be for April instead of for March, and give people a month to be ready to pay that salary. That may cause some people who are in seasonal jobs some problems, but we’re going to monitor that over the next six months and see if that isn’t a better way to operate. We think it will be, but we’re certainly going to look in six months to see if it’s worked out. Thank you.