Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I talked about a motion that was passed on March 8th, 2023, for the government to stop garnishing elders and Indian residential school survivors' pension to pay for arrears. My first questions, Housing NWT collection policy states any tenant whose rent is overdue by two months should be filed with the rental officer for an order to pay arrears. Can the Minister explain the process Housing NWT follows when an elder on a fixed income has fallen into arrears? Thank you.
Member from Monfwi. Minister of Housing NWT.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. An explanation on the process that Housing NWT would follow, it would be the local housing association or organization would reach out to the elder or the tenant whose house has fallen into arrears through the tenant relations officer. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That's good to know. Can the Minister explain what supports are in place for elders to avoid their files being handed to the rental officer. Are there any extra supports in place for elders on fixed income? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We do have a number of programs available to tenants whose housing payments have fallen into arrears. There's a list of programs that I can provide the Member to provide constituents if they do have questions. But we also have a local housing association or organization and the district offices that can provide that information as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you. If the district office was situated in Behchoko or in one of the Tlicho region, we can really access their services. So can the Minister explain what happens to elders, especially those elders who are living on fixed income who are in arrears with Housing NWT, what happens to those elders when their files are handed over to the rental officer? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Elders whose houses have fallen into arrears, their files would go to the rental office. The rental officer will try to mediate the situation and provide some sort of remedy at the time and will counsel the tenant to provide some sort of payment plan so they could pay back the arrears. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Housing NWT. Final supplementary. Member from Monfwi.
From the rental officer, I think it goes to the court. The collection policy states that arrears should be given where collection is not possible, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister explain why elders living on pensions or retired fixed income who are behind on payments cannot have their arrears forgiven?
Sorry, Mr. Speaker, I misheard the question again. If that could be repeated; I apologize.
Member from Monfwi, can you please re
Thank you. Will the Minister explain why elders living on pensions or retired fixed income who are behind on payments cannot have their arrears forgiven?
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Housing NWT works very hard to consolidate the arrears and work with the clients to enter into a payment plan to pay back some of those arrears and give them that opportunity through the tenant relations office. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Minister of Housing NWT. Oral questions. Member from Inuvik Boot Lake.
