Question.

Question is being called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Koe.

The Minister also proposed holding an annual open meeting in every community with representatives of the local housing organization, local government, community stakeholder groups and the general public.

The purpose of the annual meeting would be to provide a forum for local residents and community leaders to raise housing issues and concerns directly with the corporation. It would also provide an opportunity for information to be shared between the corporation and members of the community at large. Since community consultations have already planned, with respect to the housing needs survey and other matters, this initiative could likely be undertaken with little additional cost to the corporation.

The Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions responded to this element of the consultation model with enthusiasm. The concept of bringing interested parties in every community together for discussions of housing policy and programs was seen as a potentially effective approach to two-way communication. It was also noted that this would be in keeping with the northern tradition of holding community meetings to consider important subjects.

The need to maintain a continuing yearly commitment to the process in all communities should be emphasized. However, since there is always a risk that the initial motivation for such meetings may lessen over time, the Minister will need to take an active overseeing role to ensure that the annual public meetings are, in fact, organized for each community every year and that information generated within the meetings are transmitted clearly to his senior management.

Thank you, Mr. Koe. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.

---Carried

Proceed, Mr. Koe.

With regard to consultation with local authorities, the Minister indicated his recognition that, in the absence of a corporate board of directors, greater emphasis would need to be placed on direct consultation with the local housing organizations and local governments in communities across the Northwest Territories.

The Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions agreed with the importance of ensuring that such a process should be developed. Local housing organizations should continue to be consulted on matters such as the housing needs survey, new housing designs and new corporation policies, programs and procedures. Input on matters pertaining to the delivery of new units and transfers of responsibility for housing programs to the community level should be considered essential. Adequate representation of local housing organizations on the community home ownership recommendations committee must be guaranteed. The corporation should be available to discuss strategies for increasing operating efficiencies at the community level. The Housing Corporation should also take a serious approach to consulting with community governments on housing issues as well. This is particularly important with respect to issues surrounding block funding to community groups and band councils, the acquisition of land for new housing construction and transfers of responsibility for housing programs to the community level.

Mr. Chairman, I move that this committee recommend to the Minister that he regularly seek input from and consult with local housing organizations and community governments, band councils and Metis locals on matters of housing policy and program development, and further, that the Minister provide a summary and assessment of consultations with local authorities in the annual report of the Housing Corporation.

Thank you, Mr. Koe. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Antoine.

With regard to communication with M.L.A.s, the Minister's consultation framework proposed two strategies for facilitating the involvement of the Members of the Legislative Assembly: the establishment of a special advisory committee on housing; and, regular briefings for M.L.A.s.

The seven member special advisory committee on housing was proposed as a vehicle that would provide ongoing advice from the elected representatives to the Minister responsible for the N.W.T. Housing Corporation on broad territorial housing issues. It would be comprised of three eastern Members and three western Members with the Minister serving as Chairperson.

The Minister proposes that this body would be established pursuant to the rules of the Legislative Assembly and would apparently be a formal committee of the House. Funds would be provided from the Legislative Assembly's appropriations, and administrative support would be provided by the office of the clerk. To reduce costs and facilitate administrative functions, the committee would be mandated to meet only during sittings of the House.

The Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions was generally supportive of the principle of involving M.L.A.s in such an advisory body. It has pointed out that this approach is definitely in keeping with the consensus-style government and would represent the sort of collaborative approach that has been highly effective throughout the history of the territorial legislature. The standing committee saw particular value in making this special advisory committee receive input directly from the annual district meetings and the annual public meetings in communities in order to ensure that community based input was duly considered by the Minister and senior management of the Housing Corporation.

The standing committee did hold certain reservations about some of the specifics outlined in the proposed structure for the special advisory committee on housing. Questions arose for instance, about the propriety of using Legislative Assembly funds and resources to perform a function that is clearly departmental in focus. Similarly, there were questions about whether it would be appropriate for a Minister to chair such a committee.

It was uncertain, as well, from the Minister's presentation of the concept, as to whether the special advisory committee would have the authority or the responsibility to report to the Assembly on its deliberations. The degree to which committee agendas and examinations would be dictated by the ministerial preference as opposed to Members' priorities would need to be clarified. Several Members were concerned as well that restricting committee meeting schedules to sessional periods would result in a limited opportunity to discuss complex issues and would preclude committee participation in annual district and annual public meetings outside Yellowknife.

Notwithstanding these significant concerns, the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions concluded that there were definite merits to the concept of establishing the special advisory committee on housing. The standing committee emphasized, however, that organizational considerations will need to be better specified and possibly revised at the time when a formal motion is brought forward in the House to establish the special advisory committee and its terms of reference.

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Mr. Koe.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have recommendation number six. I move that this committee recommends that the Minister introduce a motion establishing a special advisory committee on housing during the February/March, 1992, sitting of the Legislative Assembly; and further the draft terms of reference for this committee should be tabled prior to this motion in order to allow adequate opportunity for review and discussion of the committee's structure and mandate.

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion. Mr. Koe.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think my colleagues on the standing committee would want me to elaborate on this motion. When the standing committee requested additional information about how community input into housing policy and programs can be guaranteed, the Minister returned with a very comprehensive consultation framework. One of the elements of this framework was a concept of establishing a special advisory committee of the Legislative Assembly. The Minister suggested that this would be comprised of three western Members and three eastern Members and that the Minister responsible for Housing would chair it. The Minister also suggested that this committee would operate during periods when the House was in session. The cost then would be borne by the Legislative Assembly. It would provide input to the Minister and his housing officials on policy matters.

Mr. Chairman, the standing committee both liked and disliked elements of this plan. The fundamental concept that involves setting up a committee of M.L.A.s was seen as a novel and effective approach. Members noted that this was one of the activities that fits better with the consensus style of government we have in the Northwest Territories, than it would in partisan legislatures in the south. For this reason, the standing committee felt that this concept had a lot of merit. At the same time, however, the standing committee had many questions about what this sort of a committee structure would be involved in, in an operational sense. Some of the issues outlined in the committee report include concerns over the Minister's role, the committees authority to report and the rationale for using the Legislative Assembly budget to fund an activity that may fall more properly within the departmental mandate. The standing committee liked the principle, Mr. Chairman, but Members were concerned about the lack of information which existed about the specifics.

For that reason we brought forward a motion to suggest that the Minister go ahead with his plan. Before doing so, however, he should provide this House with a tabled document which more clearly specifies what this committee would do and how it would operate. The standing committee is suggesting that this tabled document should take the form of a draft terms of reference. Once the draft terms of reference are tabled, the Minister would then proceed with a motion to establish this committee. Problems may result at that time since there is no existing structure known as a special advisory committee within this House. This would have to be addressed at the time when the Minister brings forward his motion. The tabled document which includes his draft terms of reference may assist in clarifying that point.

Mr. Chairman, should the Minister's motion pass, the committee of M.L.A.s could then be established. At that time the committee could then establish its own terms of reference and bring them back into this House. This may be somewhat different than the tabled document. Mr. Chairman, the standing committee was excited about the idea of proceeding with this initiative, however, it was worried about some of the aspects which I mentioned. I believe that the current motion will provide a useful process for seeing this new structure develop. I urge all Members to support this motion. Mahsi.

Thank you. To the motion.

Question.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Koe.

Mr. Chairman, our final statement is about a comprehensive response by the Executive Council. Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions was of the opinion that progress on all the recommended initiatives should begin immediately. The standing committee also wished to ensure that the Legislative Assembly remains aware of the steps taken by the Minister in implementing the necessary process to replace the Housing Corporation Board of Directors. Mr. Chairman, I have recommendation number seven.

I move that this committee recommends that in accordance with Rule 94(4) the Executive Council table a comprehensive response to all recommendations contained in this report to the Assembly within 120 days of the presentation of this report to the House. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Koe. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.