Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. I just wanted to speak a little bit about my Member's statement earlier about the NWT Housing Corporation allowing appropriate small businesses to operate within their units. It's great, you know, when we did our round table, I always mentioned that we need to humanize our policies right across the board. I couldn't figure out a word to describe it, but I think my colleague from Yellowknife North really, in his address, mentioned that a lot of our policies are rigid. There is too much rigidity there, so, I'm happy to see that we're moving forward and being more proactive in changing our policies. On that, I have a question for the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, and that's: will the Minister be open to give the tenants affected by this amendment a six-month grace period on their rent scale?
Thank you, Member. Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a new approach that the Housing Corporation is looking at right now, looking at the small businesses to be operating out of public housing units. It does require a lot of information-seeking, and looking at the six-month grace period, I would really have to look at this case-by-case, because, if the client is going to be entering into a business program, they are going to end up having to access a number of our government grants. Right now, I'm not going to commit to the six-month grace period because we need to review this further.
Thank you for the response from the Minister. I kind of feel like I got a contact hit with a bat; not quite a home run, but that's something. I want to make sure that the public is aware of this, too, so my next question is: will the Minister commit to putting a communications plan in place to let the public know, who are living in these units, to be aware of this new program?
This is a new initiative the Housing Corporation is taking to task. There is going to be a lot of conversation discussing how we are going to be delivering this program. I am a supporter of small businesses within the communities, and looking at enhancing is existing right now. I will be communicating with the territory and keeping them up to date on what it is we are bringing forward. I will keep the Member informed as we have further discussions within our department.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions, Member for Nunakput.
