Thank you, Madam Speaker. In March of 1993, this Assembly approved the long-term staff housing strategy.
Contained in the strategy was the decision to dispose of all staff housing in level I communities. Specifically, we agreed to sell all government-owned staff housing units in Yellowknife, Fort Smith and Inuvik. If our staff housing units were leased, we decided we should negotiate with landlords to cancel the leases and allow employee/tenants to become direct tenants with the landlords.
In level II and III communities, employees who were tenants in government-owned staff houses, were given an opportunity to purchase their homes from us. Initially, only employee tenants in single detached units and some of our duplexes were given this opportunity.
Last month, all employee/tenants who were occupying a government-owned staff unit, including multi-family buildings, on December 16, 1993, were given a final opportunity to tell us if they were interested in purchasing their units. If they were interested, they had to advise Personnel before February 11, 1994.
In Rankin Inlet and Iqaluit, employees were given until February 18, 1994 to respond to our offer.
By the end of this week, we will have received all expressions of interest.
The Department of Public Works and Services will arrange for an independent appraiser to prepare property appraisals of each unit where the employee/tenant has indicated an interest to purchase.
Following those appraisals, invitations to purchase will be prepared by Public Works and Services to send to the employees. Sale prices will be based on 90 per cent of the appraised value. Each employee will be given 30 days time to respond with a formal offer.
Cabinet will review all proposed sale prices of multi-family buildings.
Personnel, in conjunction with affected departments, will then assess each community's staff housing needs to determine if there are any units that are surplus to staff needs. During the assessment, we will consider the number of high income employees who live in Housing Corporation units. Sufficient units will be retained to allow these employees to move in if they wish. We will also review the number of staff houses which have been leased to private organizations and non-employees.
When the community assessment is complete, I will meet with individual MLAs and discuss the assessment results, examine each community's needs and review methods of disposal of any surplus units. This consultation process is a critical step in any decision to dispose of units and I am committed to it.
Where the MLA and I agree that there are housing units which are surplus to our staff needs, I will formally advise the Minister of Public Works and Services. His department will remove the units from the staff housing inventory and dispose of them in accordance with the GNWT disposal policy. The disposal policy, which is the responsibility of Public Works and Services, provides for further consultation with MLAs, GNWT agencies and community governments. Under the policy, surplus housing units could be used for public housing, sold to community groups or to the general public.
With regard to future staff housing needs, and in particular, teacher housing needs, the OPPLAN review has already identified which communities will require additional units because of new positions. This includes the extension of grade levels offered in communities.
In July of last year, in addition to the OPPLAN process, the Financial Management Board approved the acquisition of 16 additional units. The majority of these extra housing units were for teachers.
Madam Speaker, the Department of Personnel's role in staff housing is quite specific. Personnel determines how many units are needed in each community. Personnel allocates units to individual staff members. In doing this, the department relies on established guidelines which identify the level of priority for employees based on their family size. The department has also found that regional housing committees, involving at least the regional director and another senior manager, prevent accusations and suggestions of favouritism.
Personnel advises Public Works and Services if any units are surplus to staff needs. Under the long-term staff housing strategy, our role is also quite clear.
Personnel plays the lead role in dealing with tenants on such things as rent, user-pay and eligibility to purchase.
Personnel does not negotiate purchases with tenants. That is the responsibility of Public Works and Services.
Madam Speaker, I hope this statement helps to clarify Personnel's role in the staff housing area. Thank you.
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