Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the NWT Housing Corporation must begin to change the way they do business. Currently, the suite of programs they deliver are not desirable to NWT seniors.
Mr. Speaker, there are very few jobs in the small communities and the people cannot afford to pay house insurance and pay the copayment requirements of the programs. Also, Mr. Speaker, elders in small communities do not have money to leave to their adult children. All they have is their homes. On applying for any substantial programs, the elders must sign a document that encumbers their house for 10 years. They are afraid their houses will go to the NWT Housing Corporation if they pass within those 10 years.
Mr. Speaker, the NWT Housing Corporation must find a way to communicate and advise them that changes were made recently that allows 100 per cent of the outstanding mortgage should the elder pass before full forgiveness. However, Mr. Speaker, if the elder moves into longterm care, the mortgage becomes due and payable and that is still a problem. Mr. Speaker, copayment mortgage house insurance requirements are high deterrents to elders applying for help. Therefore, they continue to live in inadequate houses.
Mr. Speaker, the NWT Housing Corporation must deliver a new program that achieves several goals that are good for the government, the elders, and the rest of the people of the NWT in as far as deferring costs go that would otherwise be a huge burden for future generations.
I am speaking of Aging in Place, which, Mr. Speaker, is part of our mandate. For example, if the NWT Housing Corporation was to develop a program that would allow a senior to remain in their home for an additional 10 years versus going into longterm care, it would defer a cost of $1.3 million, double that if the household had two seniors.
Mr. Speaker, right now, the Department of Health and Social Services is looking at a looming issue of how to house all the seniors that must go into longterm care. Moving forward, they are short many, many beds. The program that keeps them aging in their own homes, in their own communities, will defer that cost for years to come.
Mr. Speaker, today I will have questions for the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation to see what she has done towards GNWT's mandate of Aging in Place. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members’ statements. Member for Nunakput.
