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.