Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I agree. We will do it jointly.

Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The option of the community doing the survey on behalf of the Housing Corporation with no Housing Corporation staff participating is not open to the community. Thank you.

Thank you. General comments. Mr. Zoe.

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. At present we are looking at new types of bonding that could be available. Also, if we get approval from CMHC, we can apply the business incentives policy; and if cabinet approves the new business incentives policy, there is also a bonding issue in that. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Pudlat.

Purchase Price Of Northern Rentals

(Translation) Mr. Chairman, can I ask a question to the Minister of the Housing Corporation? They have already said in regard to the northern rental houses that were built in 1962 -- I think their prices are too high when they are being bought by private people. They have to be renovated quite extensively, and they have already been renovated. Can there be research into the prices of older houses that were built in 1962? They are not all the same price for different houses, but people complain that the prices are too high. Some people who have applied for HAP houses are not able to get them. Can you find out if there is any discrepancy between the prices of the houses in the Baffin Region? Because the price of older houses in the Baffin Region are too high, and there have been several complaints in that regard. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The northern territorial rental/purchase program will provide tenants of those northern rental units built prior to 1975 the opportunity to purchase those units at a reasonable price. The corporation will determine the selling price of the unit. It is based on the original construction cost, the age, land cost, and improvements made to the unit. But it is supposed to be a reasonable price because every unit is different. If the unit is in worse condition than another, it is supposed to be cheaper.

If the Member has some specific concerns, we will be happy to address them because this program is supposed to assist people to get into their own homes. They are older units, and the key here is that they are supposed to be reasonably priced. If they are not, I would surely like to hear about it.

Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In regard to freight, it seems it is more expensive than what it was then; it was at a landed price at the time. I do not know how many have been buying these old houses, but these houses are old and have been renovated several times. They say the prices are too high. I understand your explanation that the price is fixed at the landed price.

Mr. Minister.

I would like to take some time soon and sit down with the Member and address this issue, because these units are supposed to be reasonably priced. I will commit that we will look at it and see if we can get them back down to the proper price. So while the Member is still in Yellowknife, we will sit down and look into it. Thank you.

Mr. Koe.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I made some earlier comments regarding rental rate schedules in the review. I would like to make a motion.

Motion To Conduct Review Of Rental Scale, Carried

I move that this committee recommends that the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation conduct a review of the public housing rent scale to ensure that affordable housing is provided to those in need.

Thank you, Mr. Koe. Your motion is being passed out to the Members. The motion is in order. Mr. Koe, to the motion.

I think I made my comments earlier. Thank you.

To the motion.

Question.