Debates of March 3, 2017 (day 63)

Date
March
3
2017
Session
18th Assembly, 2nd Session
Day
63
Members Present
Hon. Glen Abernethy, Mr. Beaulieu, Mr. Blake, Hon. Caroline Cochrane, Ms. Green, Hon. Jackson Lafferty, Hon. Bob McLeod, Hon. Robert McLeod, Mr. McNeely, Hon. Alfred Moses, Mr. Nadli, Mr. Nakimayak, Mr. O'Reilly, Hon. Wally Schumann, Hon. Louis Sebert, Mr. Simpson, Mr. Testart, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Vanthuyne
Topics
Statements

Question 686-18(2): Programs Flowing from Housing Survey

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Following up with my other colleagues here on Housing, my question to the Minister of Housing is on programs or additional programs. Cataloguing the survey is under way, and I suspect it will be followed by a review. On the idea of preservation of capital, is the Minister's office willing to entertain or have a loan guarantee program to high-credit applicants so that they can be eligible to own their own home, considering the life of the CMHC program is one-mortgage term? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Masi. Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is a bit early to define what exactly the program renewal will look like, because the survey just closed over a week ago. I do know, however, that we have done mortgage programs in the past and there were some issues with them, so I would have to review what the problems were with the mortgage programs that we provided, to do an analysis. I know that we also will be working towards more of a lease-to-own kind of a model, as well. So, in regard to whether we start to do a guaranteed loan, that would be something I would have to explore to find out why it didn't work in the past. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I am glad to hear that the Minister is open to suggestions on how to better package and tailor programs offered to the communities. In this case, on the issue of capital preservation, I think it will be an entertaining suggestion to look at loan guarantees to be ironed out in the new strategy.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

That was more of a comment, but I will allow the Minister, if she wishes, to respond.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Northwest Territories Housing Corporation is looking forward to all of the ideas. We will be reviewing all suggestions that are provided with the survey, in the House, and any other way that we have gotten input, so everything will be reviewed.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.