This is page numbers 1 - 29 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 6th 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 23-12(6): Finalization Of New Rent Scale
Question 23-12(6): Finalization Of New Rent Scale
Revert Back To Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 18

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The consultation process has taken place in all regions, including Mr. Patterson's region. In general discussions, there weren't final recommendations or numbers, until just recently, to the Advisory Committee on Social Housing. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 23-12(6): Finalization Of New Rent Scale
Question 23-12(6): Finalization Of New Rent Scale
Revert Back To Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 18

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Supplementary To Question 23-12(6): Finalization Of New Rent Scale
Question 23-12(6): Finalization Of New Rent Scale
Revert Back To Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 18

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Madam Speaker, my understanding of the word "consultation" is that there is a proposal with detailed information on which Members of the public have an opportunity to provide input. The Minister has just admitted that what was provided was general discussions and no detail. Is discussion of general principles, without sufficient details, adequate consultation on the sensitive issue of public housing rent scales? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 23-12(6): Finalization Of New Rent Scale
Question 23-12(6): Finalization Of New Rent Scale
Revert Back To Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 18

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Morin.

Further Return To Question 23-12(6): Finalization Of New Rent Scale
Question 23-12(6): Finalization Of New Rent Scale
Revert Back To Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 18

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Like I have said, the proposal for a new rent scale was passed by the

Advisory Committee on Social Housing about a year ago. That went to all the communities in the Baffin, South Slave, Inuvik, et cetera. It was discussed, they raised their concerns, their issues were addressed. Whatever issue was a concern was brought up through the Advisory Committee on Social Housing to the Housing Corporation. Pretty well all of them were addressed and what you have before you today is the new rent scale, from all that consultation. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 23-12(6): Finalization Of New Rent Scale
Question 23-12(6): Finalization Of New Rent Scale
Revert Back To Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 19

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Baffin South, Mr. Pudlat.

Question 24-12(6): Community Consultation Re New Rental Scale
Revert Back To Item 5: Oral Questions

April 5th, 1994

Page 19

Kenoayoak Pudlat Baffin South

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. Further to the questions being raised by the honourable Member for Iqaluit, I have the same question to the same Minister of Housing regarding the rent scale. I'm also a Member of the Advisory Committee on Social Housing and we dealt with the rental scale. A lot of my constituents have major concerns about this rental scale, if it is to be proceeded with. They want to find out all the information they can get before they accept the rental increases. So, I'm asking the Minister whether he has informed my three communities regarding the rental scales. Has he consulted with my constituency about the rental scales? A lot of my communities have come to me about the rental scale. So, can the Minister indicate to the House whether he has consulted with any of my communities? Thank you.

Question 24-12(6): Community Consultation Re New Rental Scale
Revert Back To Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 19

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Morin.

Return To Question 24-12(6): Community Consultation Re New Rental Scale
Question 24-12(6): Community Consultation Re New Rental Scale
Revert Back To Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 19

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The community consultation meetings were held in Baffin South in Cape Dorset on November 29, 1993, in Lake Harbour on November 30, 1993 and in Sanikiluaq on October 19 and 20, 1993. Thank you.

Return To Question 24-12(6): Community Consultation Re New Rental Scale
Question 24-12(6): Community Consultation Re New Rental Scale
Revert Back To Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 19

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Pudlat.

Supplementary To Question 24-12(6): Community Consultation Re New Rental Scale
Question 24-12(6): Community Consultation Re New Rental Scale
Revert Back To Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 19

Kenoayoak Pudlat Baffin South

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. The Minister indicated that he had consulted with the three communities in my constituency. He indicated he went to Cape Dorset and Lake Harbour, but I'm not sure whether he actually went to Sanikiluaq. However, my communities still want to know if this rental scale will, in fact, proceed. Will my constituents be able to raise any further concerns about it in the future? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 24-12(6): Community Consultation Re New Rental Scale
Question 24-12(6): Community Consultation Re New Rental Scale
Revert Back To Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 19

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Morin.

Further Return To Question 24-12(6): Community Consultation Re New Rental Scale
Question 24-12(6): Community Consultation Re New Rental Scale
Revert Back To Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 19

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yes, the rent scale will proceed. For 20 per cent of the people, rents will decrease. That will kick in on, I believe, July 1, 1994. For 40 per cent of the people, the rents will stay the same. For 40 per cent of the people, the rents will increase. The increase will be covered over a two year period, with 50 per cent kicking in on January 1, 1995. The other 50 per cent will kick in January 1, 1996. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Further Return To Question 24-12(6): Community Consultation Re New Rental Scale
Question 24-12(6): Community Consultation Re New Rental Scale
Revert Back To Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 19

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Iqaluit, Mr. Patterson.

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, apparently, consultations took place in my constituency about the proposed new rent scale. Yet, as of today, the Iqaluit Housing Authority does not have the document that will be tabled today. The meeting I attended in my riding, which was, I think, the community consultation meeting, presented not a shred of written material on the proposed rent increases.

Instead, the district manager gave a short, general speech saying basically that rents were going to be reviewed and that some rents would go up and some would go down. That was the extent of the consultation in my riding. I would like to ask the Minister, in the round of public consultations that apparently have already taken place in all communities, was there any written information presented to the public that they could consider, review and study, about the proposed new rent scale? Thank you.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Morin.

Return To Question 25-12(6): Provision Of Written Information To Communities Re New Rental Scale
Question 25-12(6): Provision Of Written Information To Communities Re New Rental Scale
Revert Back To Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 19

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Knowing government, I'm sure something in writing must have gone around during the community consultation process. I'm also aware that a year ago, we passed, in principle, a proposed new rent scale through Cabinet as well as through the Advisory Committee on Social Housing. It was a discussion paper that was put out to the public. We went through the community consultation process and brought all the issues back to the Special Committee on Social Housing. The Special Committee on Social Housing made some recommendations, we made some adjustments to the rent scale, we took it back to Cabinet, Cabinet approved it, took it back to the Advisory Committee on Social Housing, they approved it, and I'll be tabling in the House later today. Thank you.

Return To Question 25-12(6): Provision Of Written Information To Communities Re New Rental Scale
Question 25-12(6): Provision Of Written Information To Communities Re New Rental Scale
Revert Back To Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 19

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

The document has been tabled in the House and that's why I've allowed discussion on the document. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Supplementary To Question 25-12(6): Provision Of Written Information To Communities Re New Rental Scale
Question 25-12(6): Provision Of Written Information To Communities Re New Rental Scale
Revert Back To Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 20

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Madam Speaker, the Minister says that something must have gone out, knowing government. I was personally present at the meeting and took careful notes. To my recollection, Madam Speaker, there was no written information presented at the community consultation. I recall a generalized discussion paper that gave no concrete information about how rents might be adjusted or when, such as the Minister referred to.

I would like to ask the Minister, Madam Speaker, given that there has been no real detailed information -- and I think he would agree with that -- but just generalities presented to members of the public and even ordinary Members of this Assembly before today, and given that -- according to the Minister's statement of today -- the increases are not to take place until January 1995, if the district meetings held in May and June come up with some good suggestions about how this wonderful document can be approved -- given that there's all this time before January 1995 before increases take effect -- would the Minister not be open to improving the already perfect document and making some changes if some good ideas come out of that round of public consultations? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 25-12(6): Provision Of Written Information To Communities Re New Rental Scale
Question 25-12(6): Provision Of Written Information To Communities Re New Rental Scale
Revert Back To Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 20

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Morin.

Supplementary To Question 25-12(6): Provision Of Written Information To Communities Re New Rental Scale
Question 25-12(6): Provision Of Written Information To Communities Re New Rental Scale
Revert Back To Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 20

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Hallelujah, here we go again.

Supplementary To Question 25-12(6): Provision Of Written Information To Communities Re New Rental Scale
Question 25-12(6): Provision Of Written Information To Communities Re New Rental Scale
Revert Back To Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 20

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

I want to caution Ministers that when you are replying to a question not to provoke debate, and just answer the question. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 25-12(6): Provision Of Written Information To Communities Re New Rental Scale
Question 25-12(6): Provision Of Written Information To Communities Re New Rental Scale
Revert Back To Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 20

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would consider it.

Further Return To Question 25-12(6): Provision Of Written Information To Communities Re New Rental Scale
Question 25-12(6): Provision Of Written Information To Communities Re New Rental Scale
Revert Back To Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 20

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Supplementary To Question 25-12(6): Provision Of Written Information To Communities Re New Rental Scale
Question 25-12(6): Provision Of Written Information To Communities Re New Rental Scale
Revert Back To Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 20

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

So, Madam Speaker, I take it the Minister has said he is willing to consider advice from the expensive meetings that he is going to be sponsoring, bringing in local housing organizations, community governments, band councils and Metis local representatives to attend consultation meetings in their districts in May or June. He is willing to consider the advice. I take it, then, Madam Speaker, that it is now correct to say that the proposed rent scale before us today is not necessarily the final word. Thank you.