This is page numbers 105 - 126 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 5th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was housing.

Topics

Further Return To Question 72-12(5): Housing Units Sold By Public Tender
Question 72-12(5): Housing Units Sold By Public Tender
Revert Back To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 119

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My recollection is that there's nothing in there that says term or full-time, it just says government employees. That's all it is. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 72-12(5): Housing Units Sold By Public Tender
Question 72-12(5): Housing Units Sold By Public Tender
Revert Back To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 119

The Speaker

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Whitford.

Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I have a question I would like to direct to the Minister responsible for Public Works, which deals with the housing issue. The government has indicated that part of the rationale for selling staff houses in the communities is to develop a local housing market. He's to be applauded for the stand that he's taking and Cabinet is taking on that particular position. However, Madam Speaker, that can only happen if the houses that are being sold are sold at fair market value, fair market prices. Everybody knows of a little story or two, I'm sure, of somebody getting a really good deal on a house. I'd like to ask the Minister, how are prices for staff housing determined?

The Speaker

Thank you. Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Morin.

Return To Question 73-12(5): Process Used To Determine Prices For Staff Housing
Question 73-12(5): Process Used To Determine Prices For Staff Housing
Revert Back To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 119

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Houses are assessed by private people. They are trained to do that work. The government went to tender, people bid on it and they went out and assessed the units. They also assessed the damage to the units, or how they have to be fixed up to make them more liveable. That was all taken into the assessment, then they are offered for sale. Thank you.

Return To Question 73-12(5): Process Used To Determine Prices For Staff Housing
Question 73-12(5): Process Used To Determine Prices For Staff Housing
Revert Back To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 119

The Speaker

Supplementary, Mr. Whitford.

Supplementary To Question 73-12(5): Process Used To Determine Prices For Staff Housing
Question 73-12(5): Process Used To Determine Prices For Staff Housing
Revert Back To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 119

Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Speaker. That's a good answer. We have numerous communities that are off-road, in the High Arctic where it is difficult to go in there, and very, very expensive to build. Is the sale price reflected in the replacement cost of units? A house that is currently being sold, is the sale price of a replacement unit considered in that?

Supplementary To Question 73-12(5): Process Used To Determine Prices For Staff Housing
Question 73-12(5): Process Used To Determine Prices For Staff Housing
Revert Back To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 119

The Speaker

Thank you. Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Morin.

Further Return To Question 73-12(5): Process Used To Determine Prices For Staff Housing
Question 73-12(5): Process Used To Determine Prices For Staff Housing
Revert Back To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 119

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Madam Speaker. No, the sale price does not consider the replacement value, or is linked to it. If we were to do that, then there would be no sense going through this process at all. The houses would be far too high and you wouldn't sell any. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 73-12(5): Process Used To Determine Prices For Staff Housing
Question 73-12(5): Process Used To Determine Prices For Staff Housing
Revert Back To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 120

The Speaker

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Whitford.

Supplementary To Question 73-12(5): Process Used To Determine Prices For Staff Housing
Question 73-12(5): Process Used To Determine Prices For Staff Housing
Revert Back To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 120

Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Speaker. If the sale prices have been determined because of an assessment that has been made, all factors taken into consideration, market value and all that, is there still room then for the tenant who is actually living in that house to negotiate that price downward?

Supplementary To Question 73-12(5): Process Used To Determine Prices For Staff Housing
Question 73-12(5): Process Used To Determine Prices For Staff Housing
Revert Back To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 120

The Speaker

Thank you. Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Morin.

Further Return To Question 73-12(5): Process Used To Determine Prices For Staff Housing
Question 73-12(5): Process Used To Determine Prices For Staff Housing
Revert Back To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 120

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The appraisal was done by an independent appraiser. That price is given to the tenant. If he does not agree, he can make a counter offer. That does not mean the government has to accept. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 73-12(5): Process Used To Determine Prices For Staff Housing
Question 73-12(5): Process Used To Determine Prices For Staff Housing
Revert Back To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 120

The Speaker

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Natilikmiot, Mr. Ningark.

Question 74-12(5): Rental Rates For Public Housing
Revert Back To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 120

John Ningark Natilikmiot

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Happy Valentine's Day to you. My question is to the Minister of Housing. When I travelled, before this session, to Gjoa Haven and Taloyoak, I talked to a number of people. Some of those people I talked to were teachers in that area. In the smaller, more remote communities, it may be that no government employees are interested in buying the unit they occupy. Previously, the Minister explained that this unit would then be turned over to the NWT Housing Corporation, which is currently doing the rental review. Will the government employees residing in these units have to pay higher rents when they are taken over by the Housing Corporation? Thank you.

Question 74-12(5): Rental Rates For Public Housing
Revert Back To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 120

The Speaker

Thank you, Mr. Ningark. Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Morin.

Return To Question 74-12(5): Rental Rates For Public Housing
Question 74-12(5): Rental Rates For Public Housing
Revert Back To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 120

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I don't know whether they would have to pay higher rents. We have a process in place right now to review the rental structure for the NWT Housing Corporation. We're at the very start of that process. It depends on what this House recommends, or what this House supports. That will dictate the rents in the public housing units. Thank you.

Return To Question 74-12(5): Rental Rates For Public Housing
Question 74-12(5): Rental Rates For Public Housing
Revert Back To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 120

The Speaker

Thank you, Minister of Housing. Supplementary, Mr. Ningark.

Supplementary To Question 74-12(5): Rental Rates For Public Housing
Question 74-12(5): Rental Rates For Public Housing
Revert Back To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 120

John Ningark Natilikmiot

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Supplementary to the honourable Mr. Morin, Minister of Housing. If the few that the government cannot sell in smaller communities are going to transfer to the Housing Corporation, could these surplus staff units be available as access units? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 74-12(5): Rental Rates For Public Housing
Question 74-12(5): Rental Rates For Public Housing
Revert Back To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 120

The Speaker

Minister of Housing, Mr. Morin.

Further Return To Question 74-12(5): Rental Rates For Public Housing
Question 74-12(5): Rental Rates For Public Housing
Revert Back To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 120

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Anything is possible, and we'll look into all options open to us. The main thing you must understand is that we'll encourage home ownership as much as possible, we'll do everything possible to encourage people or assist people to get into their own homes. We have to keep enough staff housing, regardless of whether the Housing Corporation administers it or not, we still have to keep enough staff housing for those civil servants, teachers, nurses or whatever, who come in and out of the community. So we have to look at all those issues. It may even be possible that we have some public units, prior to 1988, that we can sell off to those people of higher income who can afford to operate and run them. We'll look at everything to encourage home ownership. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 74-12(5): Rental Rates For Public Housing
Question 74-12(5): Rental Rates For Public Housing
Revert Back To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 120

The Speaker

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Iqaluit, Mr. Patterson.

Question 75-12(5): Procedures For Sale Of Staff Housing
Revert Back To Item 6: Oral Questions

February 13th, 1994

Page 120

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Madam Speaker. This is to the Minister of Public Works. Madam Speaker, in response to an earlier question about whether term employees were allowed to buy staff houses, Mr. Morin referred to rules. I'd like to ask the Minister if the procedures relating to the sale of staff housing, including who gets the first chance to bid, and who gets the next chance if the tenant doesn't want to bid, and the process for evaluation of many of the issues that have been raised in this House today, are those guidelines or rules written down somewhere? Thank you.

Question 75-12(5): Procedures For Sale Of Staff Housing
Revert Back To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 120

The Speaker

Thank you. Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Morin.

Return To Question 75-12(5): Procedures For Sale Of Staff Housing
Question 75-12(5): Procedures For Sale Of Staff Housing
Revert Back To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 120

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yes, there is clear direction on how we are to sell off staff housing. I will be happy to make that available to all the Members tomorrow. Thank you.