Agreed.
--- Agreed
Debates of May 15th, 1996
Topics
Committee Motion 15-13(3): To Suspend Application Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 399
Some Hon. Members
Committee Motion 15-13(3): To Suspend Application Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 399
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Sergeant-at-Arms, bring in the witnesses.
Thank you. Mr. Minister, brace yourself and introduce your witnesses to the committee,
Committee Motion 15-13(3): To Suspend Application Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 399
Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South
Mr. Chairman, on my left is the president of the Housing Corporation, Joe Handley, and on my right is Jim Nelson, vice-president of finance and administration.
Committee Motion 15-13(3): To Suspend Application Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 399
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Are there any general comments? We are doing the NWT Housing Corporation. General comments. Mr. Enuaraq.
General Comments
Committee Motion 15-13(3): To Suspend Application Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 399
Tommy Enuaraq Baffin Central
(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would just like to say that the Social Programs committee, since we're Members of the Legislative Assembly and we have to follow our rules, I think there are only 10 of us here.
Committee Motion 15-13(3): To Suspend Application Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 399
The Chair John Ningark
(Translation) We will ring the bells.
--- Ringing of bells
Thank you. Mr. Enuaraq.
Committee Motion 15-13(3): To Suspend Application Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 399
Tommy Enuaraq Baffin Central
(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As I was going to mention, the Social Programs committee met a number of times and we spent quite a bit of time on housing because of the fact that there's a shortage of housing in the Northwest Territories. I would like to state that I was happy with the number of people who will get home ownership programs. I would like to ask the Minister of the NWT Housing Corporation ... I went the local housing associations to have more control over housing programs. I want to ask the Minister if, maybe starting in July, the local housing authorities will be able to take more control of the programs. Thank you.
Committee Motion 15-13(3): To Suspend Application Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 400
The Chair John Ningark
(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Enuaraq. Mr. Minister.
Committee Motion 15-13(3): To Suspend Application Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 400
Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South
(Translation) Mr. Chairman, thank you. I fully agree with the Member that this is one of the important departments, especially in the East. There aren't that many people who have their own homes and we have to try and encourage them to have their own homes. As I mentioned before, the local housing authorities will be getting block funding, and it will be up to the discretion of the authority how they want to spend the funding. If there is a surplus within that funding, then it will be up to the individual authorities to deliver housing programs.
Committee Motion 15-13(3): To Suspend Application Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 400
The Chair John Ningark
(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Enuaraq.
Committee Motion 15-13(3): To Suspend Application Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 400
Tommy Enuaraq Baffin Central
(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My other question was will the local housing authorities be able to have more control by July 1996 from the NWT Housing Corporation?
Committee Motion 15-13(3): To Suspend Application Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 400
The Chair John Ningark
(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Enuaraq. Mr. Minister.
Committee Motion 15-13(3): To Suspend Application Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 400
Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South
(Translation) Mr. Chairman, starting April 1, 1996, they were given the funding which they can use and they will be starting that in July 1996.
Committee Motion 15-13(3): To Suspend Application Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 400
The Chair John Ningark
General comments. Mr. Ootes.
Committee Motion 15-13(3): To Suspend Application Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 400
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
I have some questions, Mr. Chairman, and I am wondering if it is appropriate to ask those now.
Committee Motion 15-13(3): To Suspend Application Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 400
The Chair John Ningark
If they are general in nature, it should be appropriate to ask.
Committee Motion 15-13(3): To Suspend Application Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 400
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Housing Corporation introduced a new rent scale program about a year ago. I am just wondering what the public reaction to that has been and if any problems have been encountered with that.
Committee Motion 15-13(3): To Suspend Application Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 400
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Mr. Minister.
Committee Motion 15-13(3): To Suspend Application Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 400
Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South
Mr. Chairman, it varied depending on where the tenants were and what kind of social situation they were in. A good portion of social housing tenants' rents either decreased or stayed the same. There were the seniors who had no other family income who were no longer paying rent. In those cases, you don't get a lot of feedback. There has been some concern coming from the communities, from the percentage that had some rent increases. How the corporation dealt with it is instead of allowing rents to increase in one shot, they phased it in over a three-year period. I believe this April was the second of the three phases. So it has been mixed, Mr. Chairman.
Committee Motion 15-13(3): To Suspend Application Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 400
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Mr. Ootes.
Committee Motion 15-13(3): To Suspend Application Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 400
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
I would think that the local housing authorities would be the ones on the front line of this. I am just wondering if you could tell me how the overall basis ... Let me rephrase that. How many local housing authorities do we have? Thank you.
Committee Motion 15-13(3): To Suspend Application Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 400
The Chair John Ningark
Mr. Minister.
Committee Motion 15-13(3): To Suspend Application Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 400
Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South
Mr. Chairman, we have 47 local housing authorities in the Territories. If I could take this opportunity to inform you that we have put on your desk the 1996-97 corporate plan. We had been planning to table it tomorrow, however, we didn't realize that the Housing Corporation would be up today. So we put it on your desk and we will table it formally in the House tomorrow.
Committee Motion 15-13(3): To Suspend Application Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 400
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Mr. Ootes.
Committee Motion 15-13(3): To Suspend Application Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 400
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Just on the LHOs, likely they took the brunt of any of the problems associated with the rent scale increases. I noticed a comment that the local housing authorities, as they take on more responsibility, it is also realized that they need more training and development work to help them be successful. I am just wondering what is the feeling about the success of the local housing authorities?