Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a few questions for the Minister of Housing, leading from my Member’s statement. As I mentioned, I have a shortage of housing units in my riding. In Aklavik and Fort McPherson, we have a waiting list of up to three years.
What is the plan to address the housing shortage in Aklavik, McPherson and Tsiigehtchic, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Blake. The honourable Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation, Mr. McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have 804 people on the waiting list in the Northwest Territories. In the Member’s riding alone, I think there are about 39 on the waiting list. In many cases, people have to be on the waiting list to access some of the support programs. So they may be housed, but they have to be on the waiting list to access some of those programs. That’s the reason some of the numbers are so high.
At far as the length of time, I’d have to find out about the length of time. We try to get as many people into units as quickly as possible.
As to what we’re doing to address the issue, again, we’re challenged with the declining CMHC funding. That’s why we do a lot of replacement units. In the Member’s riding alone, in 2014-15 I think we spent about $12.5 million trying to address some of the housing concerns. Well done, Mr. Blake.
We’ll continue to make our investments in the communities they are needed in. Thank you.
I also mentioned that within our budget we have budgeted $1.6 million for 75 units, which will be an agreement entered with lease agreements in Inuvik, Hay River and Yellowknife.
Will the Minister consider this as a possible solution in my riding as a short-term solution? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The $1.6 million is money that we’ve received from ECE through their Income Support program. They supported many people in public housing or income support clients into housing units. We’ve taken over the administration of that program, so we’re actually looking at 75 units possibly leasing and, in turn, give those units to former clients who were formerly on income support to try to transition back into public housing. So it’s not the construction of 75 new units. I believe in many communities there are families supported through this particular program. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I don’t think the Minister really answered the question. Will he consider that as a solution? Yes or no.
I thought I did answer the question. Yes, we will look at it for every community.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Nadli.
