Debates of June 7, 2006 (day 7)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are to the Minister of the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. Mr. Speaker, I just want to ask the Minister because there may be some fear or confusion in terms of the news report on the housing issue in Hay River and for my people back in the Sahtu communities that do need this program that are in the house they have been living in for 20 or 30 years, that they are not going to be removed right away. There are some good things and they are not going to be removed or kicked out of their space. Can I ask the Minister what he’s doing in terms of clearing up this issue here for people in my communities? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Krutko.

Return To Question 81-15(5): Seniors’ Public Housing Initiative

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the seniors and public housing initiative will continue on at the present time. It’s a policy of the government. Again, the policy clearly states that people who live in public housing will not have to pay rent. There is another process that is going on with regard to reviewing the income security review. That now falls within the domain of the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. We have decided to centralize our social funding responsibilities and try to ensure that it is a fair distribution of money. Right now the policy is there and the policy will remain until there is a decision to review the policy. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 81-15(5): Seniors’ Public Housing Initiative

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s good to hear the Minister say the policy is going to stay in place until a review takes place. Once the review is underway looking at the different policies, would the region be consulted, would the elders be consulted in terms of how this policy is going to fall out? I know there are some people in my region that think that this policy should be looked at very carefully, but that time will come, I guess, when the Minister announces the community consultations. So will all our elders be consulted in our communities? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 81-15(5): Seniors’ Public Housing Initiative

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, before we proceed with anything, we will ensure that we do consult the seniors, seniors’ society, the seniors in our community and, more importantly, that through this legislative process that we have in front of us, we will be able to bring it forward by way of committees, but also have that debate here in the House. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 81-15(5): Seniors’ Public Housing Initiative

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are some seniors in my region who say it’s just as easy for them to get into public housing rather than try to support them through their own independent housing. It gets pretty hard for them. However, Mr. Speaker, each community and region has different scenarios, so I’m not going to take sides on this. As long as it’s fair and done in an equitable manner and that our region may be different from other communities, other regions. So will the Minister again ensure that this program here is done for how it’s intended to carry out and that our elders would be safeguarded, sort of thing, in the event that they are there, in there for their own security, in terms of not being able to be moved out or kicked out, or their rent will be covered? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 81-15(5): Seniors’ Public Housing Initiative

Mr. Speaker, again, Mr. Speaker, we have not made a decision to basically have seniors in public housing pay rent at this time. But the reason I’m saying at this time is because presently we are doing a review in regards to the income security review that’s going on in the programs we have in the Northwest Territories. Right now there’s about $100 million that’s being given out by way of some subsidy or another. Again, right now those dollars are being allocated to the Department of Education, Culture and Employment in which we’re going to ensure that we have a system in place that is fair to all residents of the Northwest Territories, from people who live in social housing to people who are in their own private residence. We are going to be doing that through the social review or income social review that’s taking place. So again, the review is taking place, we are informing our residents and, more importantly, that there has been no decision to change the policy for seniors who live in public housing to pay rent. Thank you.