This is page numbers 489 - 520 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 7th 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 rent.

Topics

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Housing. Mr. Speaker, the rent scale change notice that was discussed earlier today said, in my constituency, that if tenants don't come in by March 10th, three days from now, effective April 1st, the maximum rent will be assessed. I would like to ask the Minister about his statement yesterday, when he said that only 40 per cent of tenants have asked for information and counselling as of last Friday. Is he determined to assess these folks up to $2,560 rent for a five-bedroom house, even if the Minister knows that, historically, the household is low-income and the assessed rent may, ultimately, be nowhere near the maximum rent? Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Morin.

Return To Question 266-12(7): Maximum Rent Assessment For Social Housing Tenants
Question 266-12(7): Maximum Rent Assessment For Social Housing Tenants
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What we are committed to is working with the local housing authorities who understand every community because they are the delivery agents on the front line. We will work with them to work with their tenants to make sure their rents are assessed properly. Thank you.

Return To Question 266-12(7): Maximum Rent Assessment For Social Housing Tenants
Question 266-12(7): Maximum Rent Assessment For Social Housing Tenants
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Supplementary To Question 266-12(7): Maximum Rent Assessment For Social Housing Tenants
Question 266-12(7): Maximum Rent Assessment For Social Housing Tenants
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Mr. Speaker, I've talked to the Members of the Iqaluit housing authority who are getting very nervous because they have three days to counsel 200 or 250 tenants who have not come in, for reasons I outlined in my statement. The boom is about to fall on their heads. They are telling me that the direction from the Minister of Housing is that, unless this counselling takes place before March 10th, they are going to have no choice but to assess the maximum rent. I'd like to ask the Minister, is this the way the Minister and the Corporation plans to build good, open, trusting relationships and communication between the tenants and their landlord; to say, if you don't come by a certain date and find out what your new rent is, we'll punish you by increasing your rent five, 10 or 15 times? Is that the way to build up good relations with tenants?

Supplementary To Question 266-12(7): Maximum Rent Assessment For Social Housing Tenants
Question 266-12(7): Maximum Rent Assessment For Social Housing Tenants
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Morin.

Further Return To Question 266-12(7): Maximum Rent Assessment For Social Housing Tenants
Question 266-12(7): Maximum Rent Assessment For Social Housing Tenants
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The good way to build good relations with tenants as well as local housing authorities is to have a line of communication with them. Information packages have been distributed to all tenants. The local housing authorities have had all the training and extra dollars funded to them to carry out consultation with tenants. We are working with the housing authorities and tenants to make people aware of what the maximum rent could be for the units and to encourage them to come in and discuss with the local housing authority what their rent would actually be. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 266-12(7): Maximum Rent Assessment For Social Housing Tenants
Question 266-12(7): Maximum Rent Assessment For Social Housing Tenants
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Supplementary To Question 266-12(7): Maximum Rent Assessment For Social Housing Tenants
Question 266-12(7): Maximum Rent Assessment For Social Housing Tenants
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Mr. Speaker, I think the Minister and his officials have succeeded, beyond all estimates, in making tenants aware of the maximum rent they could be assessed. It has scared the daylights out of them, Mr. Speaker. I think it has been clear today in the dialogue in this House that the information packages have not told tenants what their rent is, it has just told them the maximum. I would like to ask the Minister, particularly where the household income is historically low, will the Minister consider, on a case-by-case basis, in cooperation with the local housing authority exempting these people from being assessed maximum rents on April 1st if they

haven't all managed to come in by the deadline three days from now? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 266-12(7): Maximum Rent Assessment For Social Housing Tenants
Question 266-12(7): Maximum Rent Assessment For Social Housing Tenants
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Morin.

Further Return To Question 266-12(7): Maximum Rent Assessment For Social Housing Tenants
Question 266-12(7): Maximum Rent Assessment For Social Housing Tenants
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What I will commit to the Member is that the Housing Corporation staff, along with the local housing authority, will approach this issue with the greatest care. We realize that tenants are people who live in our units, and we have to work with them to make them understand and we will do that. We will work with the local housing authority and the tenants to ensure that all people understand the amount of rent they will pay. Especially people of lower income will fully realize that the rents they will pay will probably be lower than they're paying today. So I encourage them to work with their local housing authority to get the proper information.

I encourage the Members, if you have local radio stations or if you have anything else available to you as a Member of this Assembly, to also get that message out to your constituents. I will, once again, check with the Housing Corporation to get the message out very clearly to get your rent properly assessed, work with your housing authority, your own people, to get the proper information so everything can be done. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 266-12(7): Maximum Rent Assessment For Social Housing Tenants
Question 266-12(7): Maximum Rent Assessment For Social Housing Tenants
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Time for oral questions has lapsed. Item 7, written questions. Ms. Mike.

Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a written question for the Minister of Personnel.

Would the Minister of Personnel please advise this House of the following:

1. Notices of lay-off were given this month to GLOs in the Baffin region. These notices gave GLOs five days to either accept or reject new half-time positions. What has been the response of GLOs to these lay-off notices and new job offers?

2. Will GLOs who refuse to accept the new half-time job offer be offered the benefit of the workforce adjustment policy?

3. Has the government undertaken a study of the daily work requirements of GLOs in the Baffin region? What were the results of that study?

4. What departments of the Government of the Northwest Territories have GLOs in Baffin communities been serving?

5. Are there any plans to have GLOs in the Baffin region deliver social services for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment in the coming fiscal year?

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 7, written questions. Mr. Patterson.

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My written question is to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Would the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment provide me with a review of the environmental technology program and renewable resource technology program, which I understood was done for the Arctic College by Avery Cooper and Company? Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 7, written questions. Item 8, returns to written questions. Item 9, replies to opening address. Item 10, petitions. Item 11, reports of standing and special committees. Item 12, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 13, tabling of documents. Mr. Kakfwi.

Item 13: Tabling Of Documents
Item 13: Tabling Of Documents

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Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Things are looking up. Today I have the opportunity to table Tabled Document 49-12(7), a letter addressed to Warren Allmand, chairman of the Standing Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs, from Jack Anawak, Member of Parliament for Nunatsiaq. The letter states strong support for the committee to come to the north to hear the views of northern people. Thank you.

---Applause

Item 13: Tabling Of Documents
Item 13: Tabling Of Documents

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 13, tabling of documents. Mr. Pollard.

Item 13: Tabling Of Documents
Item 13: Tabling Of Documents

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John Pollard Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table Tabled Document 50-12(7), Budget Supplement 1995-96, Social Envelope Committee, submitted January 1995. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 13: Tabling Of Documents
Item 13: Tabling Of Documents

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 13, tabling of documents. Mr. Patterson.

Item 13: Tabling Of Documents
Item 13: Tabling Of Documents

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Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to table Tabled Document 51-12(7), Rent Scale Change Notice, Iqaluit Housing Authority, in Inuktitut and English. Thank you.

Item 13: Tabling Of Documents
Item 13: Tabling Of Documents

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 13, tabling of documents. Item 14, notices of motion. Item 15, notices of motions for first reading of bills. Item 16, motions. Item 17, first reading of bills. Item 18, second reading of bills. Mr. Pollard.

Bill 18: Northwest Territories Energy Corporation Limited Loan Guarantee Act
Item 18: Second Reading Of Bills

March 6th, 1995

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John Pollard Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Kitikmeot, that Bill 18, Northwest Territories Energy Corporation Limited Loan Guarantee Act, be read for the second time. Mr. Speaker, this bill authorizes the Government of the Northwest Territories to guarantee loans made to the NWT Energy Corporation Limited. The principal amount of loans guaranteed under the bill must not exceed $25 million. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.

An Hon. Member

Question.