Debates of June 7, 2006 (day 7)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement I said I was going to ask about the transportation contract for the construction of winter roads, but in fact the Minister had already given us a pretty good commitment in a meeting this morning so I'm not pursuing that. So I'm going to go to Mr. Krutko instead, the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation.

Mr. Speaker, there has been a project in the works in Hay River for many months related to seniors' housing. It has been called the Whispering Willows Seniors Complex, and as of late we haven't heard much of a formal or public update as to what is the status of that project. So I'll ask Mr. Krutko if he could please let us know what is happening with Whispering Willows. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Honourable Minister responsible for Housing Corporation, Mr. Krutko.

Return To Question 75-15(5): Seniors’ Housing Project In Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have been in discussions with the Hay River Seniors' Society and also with CMHC who is also providing funding to this program. We are in the process of putting out a request for proposals for construction of units in Hay River, working in conjunction with the Seniors' Society, CMHC and ourselves. So we're presently in the process of preparing a request for proposal on that project.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 75-15(5): Seniors’ Housing Project In Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have two questions, then, as a result of that. No, I have three questions actually. How many units is this complex going to consist of, are they for seniors, and is the NWT Housing Corporation supplying the land on which these units are going to be built from this RFP? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Three questions there. The Minister can answer one or all three. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 75-15(5): Seniors’ Housing Project In Hay River

Mr. Speaker, I'll answer the last one first and go forward. The land that this project is sitting on is land that is owned by the Housing Corporation. We are contributing to this project. In regards to the numbers of units, again we are working along with the Seniors' Society in which they are also going to be putting money into this project, and also working with the community of Hay River to try to get some money through the capacity funding. But also through CMHC again, they are also involved. So at this time, we are working in conjunction with the three agencies to be able to deliver this program. But also to have a fair and open process, we are going to be putting out the request for proposals and sit down with the Seniors' Society in Hay River, along with CMHC and myself, to ensure that we are being fair and open and transparent and also meet the goals of the seniors for Hay River. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 75-15(5): Seniors’ Housing Project In Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So the Minister didn't tell me how many units were going to be built, he didn't tell me who the units are going to be for, so I'd like to ask the Minister again -- I hope this doesn't count as a question -- who are the units being built for and isn't the NWT Housing Corporation, in fact, going to buy these units? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 75-15(5): Seniors’ Housing Project In Hay River

Mr. Speaker, these units are for seniors in Hay River who basically have low incomes. This is going to be similar to public housing that we provide the seniors at the present time. I know there were concerns in regard to condos and whatnot that were in the mix. That is no longer part of this scenario, so we are only focussing on low income seniors to provide social housing for seniors in Hay River. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Your final supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 75-15(5): Seniors’ Housing Project In Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to know if the Minister, at some point, could provide us with some kind of documentation that shows this project in a capital plan anywhere. The other thing, Mr. Speaker, if the Housing Corporation's going to own them, they're low income units for seniors, have they done a market study to identify if there is a demand for them or not? Because I'll tell you something, Mr. Speaker, everyone knows, as my colleague referred to today, that most of the people who moved into the duplexes, whether they were low income or not low income or whatever they were, sold their homes to move in there. So that would kind of speak to you about the demand. I hope that the Minister plans to do some kind of a market survey or something to determine if there's a demand for these units for social housing for seniors.

The other question, and my final question, Mr. Speaker, is, is the Town of Hay River going to allow the Housing Corporation to build social housing on the lot that they have on the riverbank in Hay River downtown? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 75-15(5): Seniors’ Housing Project In Hay River

Mr. Speaker, everyone knows that this land has been designated for seniors' housing in Hay River for years. It's nothing new to the Town of Hay River, and we have no plans of changing that at this time. Also in regards to the clients that we are looking at, we have done needs surveys, we have a lot of facilities we have in Hay River we're going to have to replace at some point, and we're looking at possibly moving those residents into this unit while we have to either replace the existing seniors' units in Hay River and move those residents into this new facility, because we do have to replace that facility at some point. Thank you.