Committee members expressed concern regarding sale of remaining GNWT staff housing. While the Committee understands the principal behind the sale, there exists concerns about the effect of this policy on staff such as teachers and nurses, many of whom are not willing to purchase staff housing.
Committee members noted community concerns that without adequate staff housing being available communities might find it difficult to attract staff to fill positions. The net benefit of the revenue from the sale of these houses was also noted as a concern when contrasted with the current revenue stream generated from staff housing. The Committee urges the Government to ensure that these concerns are fully addressed before the sale of these staff housing units are finalized.
Results of investment search initiative. Committee members were pleased to see the government moving ahead on the initiatives resulting from the investment search such as an immigrant investor program. The Committee looks forward to receiving more information about other initiatives as they become available.
Preparations for division. The Committee raised some questions about financial issues which must be addressed in preparation for division in 1999. One prime example is the necessity to identify the Government's assets and liabilities and to develop the process for dividing them between the two new territories, therefore, the Committee recommended that the Minister complete the development of a timeline on the process for identifying and dividing assets and liabilities and on other division related financial processes.
If community empowerment is to continue to proceed it must be implemented in an orderly fashion. The Committee is adamant that actual transfers of responsibility must not take place before appropriate preparations are in place.
I will now ask the honourable Member for Yellowknife South to read the next section of the Standing Committee's report.