Thank you, Mr. Chairman. According to the government's new long-term staff housing policy employees who are unhappy about paying substantial increases in their rent should be encouraged to pursue home ownership. I am interested in community planning, Mr. Chairman, because I would like to find out from the Minister, how much land is available for residential construction in our communities now that we have some 1,800 or 1,900 people who are presumably going to be looking for lots on which to build houses? I know for example in my own community of Iqaluit, Mr. Chairman, there are about 300 or 400 government employees who are now feeling pressured by the new staff housing policy and who are looking at home ownership options. As I understand it, there are but a few private residential lots available in my community. So when my constituents hear the government say "home ownership is an option, do not feel trapped, you can build your own house", they find it difficult to believe because when they go down to the local municipality, they find there is no land. Has the community planning activity in his department been working with the Department of Personnel to identify the impact of all the new requirements from public servants for home ownership? Has the department been working with the Department of Personnel? Have they oriented their residential development to take into account the numbers of public servants in a community who may now be applying for land? Thank you.
Dennis Patterson on Bill 17: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1993-94
In the Legislative Assembly on March 1st, 1993. See this statement in context.
Bill 17: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1993-94
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 28th, 1993
Page 677
Dennis Patterson Iqaluit
See context to find out what was said next.