Debates of October 26, 2006 (day 16)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my quick Member’s statement, I forgot to mention the elders in terms of the extreme makeover I was talking about. I wanted to ask the Minister of the NWT Housing Corporation, we have about an hour and 25 minutes in terms of his portfolio. Would he consider looking at the elders in the Northwest Territories and speaking also for my region in terms of what I talked about a monitor of those heaters that they put into independent homes for the elders to reduce the cost of living to the elders’ homes. Can the Minister provide me with some information as to if this is possible to put these heaters in these independent homes to save costs on the elders’ pension cheques? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Minister responsible for Housing, Mr. Krutko.

Return To Question 204-15(5): Heaters In Independent Homes For Elders

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have had several projects we have done in different communities where they put space heaters in seniors’ homes to bring down the cost of energy and also ensure that they live comfortably but also realize that they also have a set income they have to work with. So we have done several projects like this in conjunction with band councils on behalf of their membership and we are open to that initiative. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 204-15(5): Heaters In Independent Homes For Elders

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think this would be a really good sign of support for these elders in terms of these independent homes. The Member from Hay River South talked about the types of initiatives that we could do in terms of having energy-efficient homes. Can the Minister commit to having his department look at an assessment in terms of what will it cost to bring in these space heater projects? I know the number of elders that may qualify for these space heaters for this winter. I know because the issue of helping them out would require more time in the next couple of days here. So I would ask the Minister to give that thought. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 204-15(5): Heaters In Independent Homes For Elders

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we do have several programs that are there, designed to assist seniors to be independent, to live in their homes as long as possible. We do have the seniors Home Repair Program. We have the Seniors' Maintenance Program. We have the Seniors' Independence Program. The heater that the Member’s talking about is a space heater, which is roughly in the range of about $3,500. I think that it is what we find the clients have had installed in their house and they are very quiet, they do keep the home very comfortable and I think it’s important that if this is the way that we can bring down the cost of the seniors heating their homes and also ensuring that they’re able to take advantage of the seniors' fuel subsidy so they don’t have to take money out of their pocket to heat themselves, that this is a good program. So I’d like to tell the Member that we are looking at taking this program forward, we are looking at consolidating our programs, and this is one of the areas that we would really like to see an improvement, especially having been involved with working with the Seniors' Society on this and this is one of the programs they very much would like to see implemented. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 204-15(5): Heaters In Independent Homes For Elders

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the Minister’s comments on to the cost of the space heaters. I’m asking the Minister, can he look at Colville Lake, Deline, Tulita, Fort Good Hope, even Norman Wells, in terms of saying we would look at these independent homeowners? Seniors are very proud and we would like to put in based on the amounts that we have, put in these pilot project space heaters in the communities to look at these elders and say yes, we are supporting you and we are supporting independent living. I’d like to see that type of commitment from this government. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 204-15(5): Heaters In Independent Homes For Elders

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned, there are programs that can do exactly what the Member is asking for. Again, it’s an application-based program and I encourage the Member to work with his communities and put forward an application to the regional office and see if he can do a pilot project in those particular communities for the seniors that you represent. But again, it’s an application-based program and by way of coming forward with an application for each community or for an individual or for a number of individuals, then it would be looked at project by project. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 204-15(5): Heaters In Independent Homes For Elders

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As soon as we finish with the House today I’m going to pick up an application for all the people in the Sahtu region, especially the elders. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to ask the Minister in his limited time as the Minister, will he ensure that the new Minister will concentrate on the small communities? I know the Minister who is going to, is from a large riding, and have the housing association Minister not lose sight of the small communities in terms of the workload that the new Minister will have on his plate that the small communities don’t lose out on this reshuffling of the Cabinet portfolios. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 204-15(5): Heaters In Independent Homes For Elders

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as the Minister responsible at this time in this House, I commit that they will do something in regards to those communities and they will be able to come forward with something, work along with yourself and the Minister to be…