This is page numbers 521 - 547 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 housing.

Topics

Supplementary To Question 271-12(7): Designation Of Form Entitled "rent Change Notice"
Question 271-12(7): Designation Of Form Entitled "rent Change Notice"
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 530

Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. How many rent change notice forms were sent to the housing associations from the Housing Corporation?

Supplementary To Question 271-12(7): Designation Of Form Entitled "rent Change Notice"
Question 271-12(7): Designation Of Form Entitled "rent Change Notice"
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 530

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Morin.

Further Return To Question 271-12(7): Designation Of Form Entitled "rent Change Notice"
Question 271-12(7): Designation Of Form Entitled "rent Change Notice"
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 530

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Like I said yesterday in this House, I believe approximately 7,000 English copies and 2,900 copies of the information packages were distributed. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 271-12(7): Designation Of Form Entitled "rent Change Notice"
Question 271-12(7): Designation Of Form Entitled "rent Change Notice"
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 530

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Supplementary, Ms. Mike.

Supplementary To Question 271-12(7): Designation Of Form Entitled "rent Change Notice"
Question 271-12(7): Designation Of Form Entitled "rent Change Notice"
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 530

Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The rent change notice form indicates that rents will change as of April 1, 1995. Was that sent to all housing associations and authorities across the NWT?

Supplementary To Question 271-12(7): Designation Of Form Entitled "rent Change Notice"
Question 271-12(7): Designation Of Form Entitled "rent Change Notice"
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 530

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Morin.

Further Return To Question 271-12(7): Designation Of Form Entitled "rent Change Notice"
Question 271-12(7): Designation Of Form Entitled "rent Change Notice"
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 530

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, all local housing authorities received these packages and they had workshops as well. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 271-12(7): Designation Of Form Entitled "rent Change Notice"
Question 271-12(7): Designation Of Form Entitled "rent Change Notice"
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 530

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Final supplementary, Ms. Mike.

Supplementary To Question 271-12(7): Designation Of Form Entitled "rent Change Notice"
Question 271-12(7): Designation Of Form Entitled "rent Change Notice"
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 530

Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Had the Minister answered my first question, I wouldn't have had to use all my supplementary questions just trying to get the answer I'm after. My question to the Minister is this: was the translation in Inuktitut of that notice also provided to the housing authorities and associations by the Housing Corporation?

Supplementary To Question 271-12(7): Designation Of Form Entitled "rent Change Notice"
Question 271-12(7): Designation Of Form Entitled "rent Change Notice"
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 530

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Morin.

Further Return To Question 271-12(7): Designation Of Form Entitled "rent Change Notice"
Question 271-12(7): Designation Of Form Entitled "rent Change Notice"
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 530

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes.

Further Return To Question 271-12(7): Designation Of Form Entitled "rent Change Notice"
Question 271-12(7): Designation Of Form Entitled "rent Change Notice"
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 530

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Antoine.

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to follow up the statement I made earlier today with regard to the winter roads to Trout Lake, Nahanni Butte and Jean Marie River, which are scheduled to close March 15th. I also, in recognition of those constituents who are involved with this issue and are making their concerns known, on behalf of those constituents, I would like to ask the Minister of Transportation what the department has done so far in reaching an attainable and reasonable solution to extending the closing date. Mahsi.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Transportation, Mr. Todd.

Return To Question 272-12(7): Extension Of Date For Closure Of Winter Roads
Question 272-12(7): Extension Of Date For Closure Of Winter Roads
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 530

John Todd Keewatin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I did ask the department before I left Friday to go to Iqaluit over to Rankin and then to Toronto, to treat this matter with a sense of urgency because time was running out, as they say; I asked them to review this entire issue and see if there was some way that we could, one, stay within our budget requirements -- and I want to emphasize that -- but at the same time two, perhaps consider a creative way in which to extend some of these ice

roads. I am not in a position today to give a full report to the Member, but I will assure him that by tomorrow I will hopefully be able to make a Minister's statement that, while it may not be a perfect solution, be better than what we currently have. Thank you.

Return To Question 272-12(7): Extension Of Date For Closure Of Winter Roads
Question 272-12(7): Extension Of Date For Closure Of Winter Roads
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 531

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 6, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Supplementary To Question 272-12(7): Extension Of Date For Closure Of Winter Roads
Question 272-12(7): Extension Of Date For Closure Of Winter Roads
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 531

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Another problem I have with the winter road closure is the way these roads are going to be closed. If they are going to be closed, sometimes huge tires are put in the way or there are snow banks that are put in place; the members of the community know when the roads will be closed and when they can't pass any more. So they are requesting that they be able to use the road as long as they can.

One of the points that we found out about, I would like to ask the Minister if it's true, is that the department plans to fine winter road offenders anywhere from $2,000 to $5,000 if they are caught on a winter road after closure. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 272-12(7): Extension Of Date For Closure Of Winter Roads
Question 272-12(7): Extension Of Date For Closure Of Winter Roads
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 531

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Todd.

Further Return To Question 272-12(7): Extension Of Date For Closure Of Winter Roads
Question 272-12(7): Extension Of Date For Closure Of Winter Roads
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 531

John Todd Keewatin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Not to my knowledge, and I am meeting with the deputy minister later on this afternoon. I want to assure the Member that we do recognize that this is an important economic link in the region. We are trying as hard as we can to come up with some creative solution within the current fiscal framework in which we are working. So, not to my knowledge at this time. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 272-12(7): Extension Of Date For Closure Of Winter Roads
Question 272-12(7): Extension Of Date For Closure Of Winter Roads
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 531

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Allooloo.

Titus Allooloo Amittuq

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to direct my question to the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Morin. In the Housing Corporation's notice to the tenants, in Inuktitut, it says that those people who refuse to disclose their income will not be paying rent for their units. That information seems to be misleading. Mr. Speaker, what is the Minister prepared to do since the information in the notice that was given to tenants is misleading? It was mentioned by the Member for Iqaluit that people are not coming to housing associations to disclose their income, because they read in Inuktitut that if they do not disclose their income they don't have to pay the rent for their unit. What is the Minister prepared to do with that information? Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Morin.

Return To Question 273-12(7): Inuktitut Translation Of Rent Change Notice Misleading
Question 273-12(7): Inuktitut Translation Of Rent Change Notice Misleading
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 531

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understand the English side of this but I do not understand the Inuktitut translation of the rent scale change notice. I have talked to other people about this and one person said it says exactly what Mr. Allooloo said. Then I had the Housing Corporation check up on it -- we checked in Pangnirtung and Pond Inlet -- and my understanding is that the translated notice is the same as the English notice. That is what the local housing authorities there are saying to us, and none of the tenants have identified anything wrong with the translated copy. So I am getting mixed messages on the translation of this document.

I don't see it as a major problem. We can use this form, and I have already directed the Housing Corporation to become very aggressive and go back, explain the error and work with the local housing authorities and make sure that everyone fully understands what the intention is, because this has been ongoing for a long period of time.

We also had workshops and training with our local housing authorities and our tenant relations officers and Inuktitut speaking managers, and they never had a problem with it.

The message I am getting from the local housing authorities is that things are on schedule and people are coming in. They also have extra dollars from the Housing Corporation to make sure people fully understand what is happening. They are doing that. They are starting to meet with people, and every day more people are coming in.

So, through this form, as well as through the radio stations in the eastern Arctic, we will aggressively let people know what is happening and encourage them to come in. I encourage Members of this Assembly, if they get any calls from constituents or people who have a concern, to explain it properly to them because we can all pitch in and help out to make sure everybody fully understands. Thank you.

Return To Question 273-12(7): Inuktitut Translation Of Rent Change Notice Misleading
Question 273-12(7): Inuktitut Translation Of Rent Change Notice Misleading
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 531

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 6, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Allooloo.

Supplementary To Question 273-12(7): Inuktitut Translation Of Rent Change Notice Misleading
Question 273-12(7): Inuktitut Translation Of Rent Change Notice Misleading
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 531

Titus Allooloo Amittuq

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For those unilingual Inuit who speak only Inuktitut, this would mean that if they do not come to the housing associations to verify their income, they will not have to pay for their unit. That's what it says to me and also to my colleague for High Arctic who speaks more Inuktitut than I do or has spoken Inuktitut longer than I have.

Mr. Speaker, for those people who read this the way we read it, if they do not go to the housing associations to verify their income, will their rent be subjected to a new rent scale? Thank you.