Debates of February 28, 2022 (day 98)

Date
February
28
2022
Session
19th Assembly, 2nd Session
Day
98
Members Present
Hon. Diane Archie, Hon. Frederick Blake Jr., Mr. Bonnetrouge, Hon. Paulie Chinna, Ms. Cleveland, Hon. Caroline Cochrane, Mr. Edjericon, Hon. Julie Green, Mr. Johnson, Ms. Martselos, Ms. Nokleby, Mr. O'Reilly, Ms. Semmler, Hon. R.J. Simpson, Mr. Rocky Simpson, Hon. Shane Thompson, Hon. Caroline Wawzonek, Ms. Weyallon-Armstrong
Topics
Statements

Question 951-19(2): Process for Debt Forgiveness

Okay, thank you. Final questions. But I think I know the Minister has said it before, we don't want to set anybody up for failure twice. I think it is up to the people to decide, that they should work with the people on that. So does the Minister does the Housing Corporation have a process where clients can have can apply to have debts forgiven? Can the Minister commit to creating a process where clients can apply for debts forgiven or write off? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There is a process that the Government of the Northwest Territories does follow. We could put forward those recommendations, but we are also binded by Canada mortgage and Housing Corporation as well too. So looking at the extensive process that we do follow, we could make the recommendations but we have to really display that we have tried every single attempt to collect the money that is owed to the corporation and then we'd also have to follow the Financial Administration Act as well too to making sure that we are doing things correctly and fair.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Monfwi.

Thank you. With reference to arrears, I think the Housing needs to take responsibility in this area because they did not intervene within the first few months of people missing payments and etcetera. I think it's the onus should be on the Housing Corporation, not the tenants, and then taking actions after that. I think the Housing Corporation should be responsible for that. So I just wanted to say that comment. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do agree with the Member as well too, that we should have had more of a stronger outreach to these clients. And these are older mortgage programs that we did have with the access unit in the homeownership and the help as well too. And I've been put the I've working within my department to work with these files. There's approximately 268 mortgage files throughout the Northwest Territories, and I'm determined to work with these files. I would honestly like to see them closed and to see the homeowners throughout the Northwest Territories become successful. But I'd like to thank the Member for that, that, you know, we should have contacted those clients at that time should they have missed the mortgage payments to 30, 60, 90 days. But it's something that we're improving within the corporation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member from oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.