Merci, Monsieur le President. Over recent months, my office has done a lot of work on behalf of tenants in public housing units in the Lanky Court apartment complex in my riding. It's been a long and very difficult process to get responses from the housing minister on behalf of the Yellowknife Housing Authority working with Northview Apartment Real Estate Investment Trust. More importantly, actual improvements to housing conditions do not seem to have materialized.
There have been cockroach and bed bug infestations and housing conditions no one should have to endure. Young children being repeatedly attacked by bed bugs, mold so bad that it's causing breathing problems for tenants, public housing tenants forced to pay moving costs and service connection charges when they are moved within the complex, and more. At least one constituent finally moved out as there were no solutions being offered.
One constituent first came to my office about a bed bug infestation and inaction from the landlord on dealing with the pests. To combat the pests, this tenant had to treat or throw out all furnishings, clean the apartment thoroughly, and pack up household effects while the chemical treatment was actually underway. For a low income person, action packers, cleaning products, and new furniture are unaffordable and were not provided.
Compounding the pest problem was mold rot in the bath and kitchen area requiring extensive repairs. Through long and persistent lobbying, I got the constituent moved into another apartment while repairs took place on their unit. That seemed like a good solution, Mr. Speaker, until I learned recently that the new apartment was already infested with cockroaches.
I've also been informed that the tenant would not be moving back to the renovated and pestcontrolled unit. The constituent was also charged $400 for moving furnishings and personal effects and would be charged the fee for transferring their electrical account.
It's hard to believe, Mr. Speaker, that we treat people in this manner. Looking at the core housing need and other data from the bureau of statistics, we see that these horrible conditions are commonplace across the Northwest Territories. Ten percent of all houses are considered inadequate, which in some smaller communities goes as high as 50 percent. Pests, mold rot, and bad indoor air are so commonplace that the bureau of statistics actually compiles separate data tables on these problems by community.
The root of the problem is this government's inability or unwillingness to provide adequate housing for all our residents. Housing is not a priority with this government when we continue to spend more on roads than on housing, and travel to Ottawa for mega projects, over housing. I'll have questions for the housing Minister later today. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Members' statements. Member for Deh Cho.
