Does this committee agree?

Agreed.

---Agreed

Mr. Morin, would you proceed?

Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, Introductory Remarks

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and thank you committee Members. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to present the NWT Housing Corporation's 1994-95 capital budget.

As I told Members last week, we have begun discussions with the new federal government to get funding reinstated. However, at this time, the only CMHC funding we are guaranteed for 1994-95 is $3.056 million for retrofitting and modernization/improvement projects for existing public housing. As far as new units are concerned, beginning in 1994-95, our capital budget is based solely on GNWT funding.

Despite the loss of federal funding, we have been able to continue delivering new housing units with less money because we have made a number of important changes in the way we deliver programs. There is a continuing emphasis on home ownership, in response to the high level of public interest in our new access programs.

Our priority is to encourage home ownership as much as possible, for those people who can afford it. In 1992-93, about 40 per cent of new units were home ownership units, and 60 per cent were public housing. Last year, it was 60 per cent home ownership and 40 per cent rental. This year, the target will be 70 per cent home ownership and 30 per cent rental. Since many of our new home ownership clients currently live in public rental housing, vacancies will become available in public housing for other families.

I am very encouraged by the tremendous public interest in our new access programs. I know some Members are getting complaints from constituents about slow delivery. This is due to a very short time frame we had to get the programs developed, approved and out in the field. However, I am pleased to advise you that we have already started access delivery for 1994-95.

The corporation will also continue to identify potential cost-savings and work to improve the efficiency of current programs. For example, we will repair existing public and home ownership units so these homes will last longer. This is less expensive than building new or replacement units and allows us to make use of the little CMHC repair funding that is left.

With respect to the critical issue of federal funding, the GNWT has taken an aggressive approach with the federal government to get funding reinstated for new social housing.

I had several meetings with the former federal housing Minister, the Honourable Elmer MacKay, which results in the NWT retaining 6.44 per cent of the national housing budget in 1993-94. This represents $11 million in additional funding that the GNWT did not have to find.

My recent meeting with the new federal Minister, the Honourable David Dingwall, was encouraging. We made a strong case for the need for continued federal funding for new social housing construction in the NWT, and I believe Mr. Dingwall understands our situation and will take the issue to his Cabinet colleagues on our behalf.

I would like to acknowledge the advice and support of the Members of the Advisory Committee on Social Housing. The committee has been very constructive and positive in its approach. I will continue to work closely with the committee in the months ahead.

Advisory committee Members, Silas Arngna'naaq and James Arvaluk attended ITC's annual general meeting in Kujuuak, Quebec, in September. A strong resolution calling for reinstatement of federal funding for social housing was passed at that meeting.

Recently, in Yellowknife, I also met with Rosemary Kuptana, President of ITC, and she has committed to continue to work closely with us on housing issues. She has spoken about the NWT housing shortage on several occasions. Ms. Kuptana made an excellent presentation to the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples about the urgent need for continued federal funding for housing in our communities.

I will continue to work closely with the advisory committee, native organizations and all MLAs, to lobby the new Liberal government very aggressively on this issue. I know that Jack Anawak and Ethel Blondin-Andrew will continue to help us. They have already played a valuable role by ensuring that the new federal housing Minister was briefed on the serious need for housing in the NWT, prior to my recent meeting with him.

Cutting costs will allow us to deliver more units -- it's that simple. We have a responsibility to the people in our communities to make sure we get the most housing for the dollar.

The corporation is also committed to supporting economic development at the community level. We have restructured housing delivery to increase economic opportunities for local and northern businesses. We have broken down our large contracts into smaller components, so that local and northern companies can compete. We are buying screw-jacks, windows and fibreglass tanks from NWT manufacturers.

Existing and potential northern manufacturers have been asked to come forward and express interest in providing some of the components we need for our houses. Twenty-nine submissions have been received to date. We will work with them to add to the list of made-in-the-NWT components for our houses.

Housing projects also provide much needed employment in our communities. We are working to maximize training and employment opportunities for local people on housing, and other GNWT building construction projects. To test the key elements of the building and learning strategy, 24 trainees are on the job in six pilot communities, and they are doing very well.

Over 250 copies of a draft version of the building and learning strategy were sent out to MLAs, the construction industry, aboriginal groups, communities and contractors. The response has been very positive and supportive. The strategy will be tabled in this session.

That concludes my remarks, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, very much.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Minister, for the opening remarks. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Antoine.

SCOF report on the NWT Housing Corporation.

SCOF report. Agreed?

Agreed.

---Agreed

Mr. Antoine, proceed.

Standing Committee On Finance Comments

This is with regard to the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. Housing continues to be a prominent concern of the committee. The Minister and the corporation are continuing efforts to solve the critical housing shortage in the Northwest Territories. These efforts are being undertaken in the midst of federal cost-sharing reductions and eliminations.

Mr. Chairman, I move that this committee recommends that the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation negotiate, on an urgent basis, with the new federal government to reinstate some form of cost sharing to support social housing programs. The cost sharing arrangement should reflect the federal government's fiduciary responsibility to provide housing to aboriginal people.

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. 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.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Minister noted his intention to continue to work closely with the Advisory Committee on Social Housing. In the standing committee's view, the advisory committee is not working effectively. Meetings are rarely called and advice is not sought from the Members. Members find this disturbing, particularly, given the current crisis situation in meeting housing needs. The Standing Committee on Finance would like to see the terms of reference for the Advisory Committee reviewed, with a view to either strengthening or dissolving this group.

The committee acknowledges the corporations' work in developing a variety of housing programs including: access to home ownership; rent supplement; senior citizen's home repair; and, home owner improvement. However, the committee encourages the corporation to continue to explore alternative means of providing housing that is cost-effective and meets the needs of the communities.

Committee Members noted that there is confusion about the corporation's programs in the communities. The confusion results from the fact that there is both an access program and an access housing unit. The committee suggests that the corporation review this situation and take whatever action is required to eliminate this confusion.

Members feel that various regions and communities should have some flexibility in accessing government support housing. This could be accomplished through some type of "block funding arrangement." The added benefit of this type of arrangement would be that the decisions could be made at the community level. The committee is impressed with the "build and learn" strategy being implemented by the corporation.

That's the standing committee's response to the Housing Corporation, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Antoine, for the presentation. What is the wish of the committee? Is the Minister of the Housing Corporation prepared to go line by line? Mr. Antoine.

Do you want to get into general comments, Mr. Chairman?

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Can I have permission to bring my witnesses in?

Thank you, before we get into general comments, can we have the concurrence of the committee that the honourable Minister bring in his witnesses?

Agreed.

---Agreed

Proceed, Mr. Minister. The committee will come to order. Mr. Minister, would you introduce your witnesses, please.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My witness is the President of the NWT Housing Corporation, Mr. Larry Elkin.

---Applause

Mr. Whitford.

General Comments