Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation. Mr. Speaker, prior to Christmas, I was advised by one of my constituents that they were forced to give up their access home, simply because they could not afford it. As a result, they attempted to secure housing through the local housing association but, unfortunately, they were refused. The reason given was that, if they were at one point the owner of an access unit and gave it up, that they could not then obtain social housing. I would like to know if the Minister could confirm that is the policy. Thank you.
Debates of Feb. 5th, 1997
Topics
Question 230-13(4): Housing Corporation Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 408
Kevin O'Brien Kivallivik
Question 230-13(4): Housing Corporation Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 408
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
The Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation. Mr. Arlooktoo.
Return To Question 230-13(4): Housing Corporation Policy
Question 230-13(4): Housing Corporation Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 408
Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South
Mr. Speaker, I can provide the Member with the exact policy guideline, but I do believe that one of the criteria for getting into social housing is the fact that you do not have arrears towards the local housing authority or the Housing Corporation, which may have been the case, with this example.
Return To Question 230-13(4): Housing Corporation Policy
Question 230-13(4): Housing Corporation Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 408
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. O'Brien.
Supplementary To Question 230-13(4): Housing Corporation Policy
Question 230-13(4): Housing Corporation Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 408
Kevin O'Brien Kivallivik
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister confirm whether or not the policy, as it is stated, if a person does not have arrears. If they simply gave up the house because they could not afford to make the payments, they found them too strenuous, if they would be refused by the LHOs?
Supplementary To Question 230-13(4): Housing Corporation Policy
Question 230-13(4): Housing Corporation Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 408
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Arlooktoo.
Further Return To Question 230-13(4): Housing Corporation Policy
Question 230-13(4): Housing Corporation Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 408
Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South
Mr. Speaker, each individual case is different. I would imagine that the LHO would look at the severity of the need of the family. If the family did meet all the requirements for being able to get into social housing, they would certainly have to go on the list. As everybody probably knows, these housing authorities do have fairly long waiting lists. If they do meet all the requirements, then they would be on the list.
Further Return To Question 230-13(4): Housing Corporation Policy
Question 230-13(4): Housing Corporation Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 408
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. O'Brien.
Supplementary To Question 230-13(4): Housing Corporation Policy
Question 230-13(4): Housing Corporation Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 408
Kevin O'Brien Kivallivik
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, is the Minister saying that if the family gives up the unit because it simply just cannot afford it, they have no arrears, that they should be given the opportunity to gain local housing? There should be no reason why they would not be accepted or put on the list for local housing. Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 230-13(4): Housing Corporation Policy
Question 230-13(4): Housing Corporation Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 408
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Arlooktoo.
Further Return To Question 230-13(4): Housing Corporation Policy
Question 230-13(4): Housing Corporation Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 408
Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South
Mr. Speaker, I will have to look at the actual policy and agreements that these new home owners sign. Whether or not, at the time they accepted assistance for home ownership through the Housing Corporation, whether they are giving up the ability to use social housing again, I will check into that.
Further Return To Question 230-13(4): Housing Corporation Policy
Question 230-13(4): Housing Corporation Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 408
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Mr. Krutko.
Question 231-13(4): Funding For Contracting Of Municipal Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
February 4th, 1997
Page 408
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Municipal Affairs. In the private sector, communities do not receive either capital or O and M funding for equipment and facilities, which are supplied by contractors, and not owned by communities. On the other hand, when communities deliver municipal services through their own process, they receive capital funding for equipment, infrastructure, as well as O and M funding, for the operation and maintenance within those communities.
Mr. Speaker, my question to the Minister is, in the case of a community that wants to look at contracting out certain sectors to the private sector, that they should not be penalized and they should receive the same amount of funding as those communities that do receive O and M funds. Is the Minister presently looking at that possibility?
Question 231-13(4): Funding For Contracting Of Municipal Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 408
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
The Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs, Ms. Thompson.
Return To Question 231-13(4): Funding For Contracting Of Municipal Services
Question 231-13(4): Funding For Contracting Of Municipal Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 408
Manitok Thompson Aivilik
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When the Member was making his Members' statement, I thought he meant the municipal government should not be competing with the private sector. The question seems to be different. We are looking at municipal financing of all local governments in the communities. This is one of the items that
has been discussed in the NWTTA meetings, and also with my department staff. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Return To Question 231-13(4): Funding For Contracting Of Municipal Services
Question 231-13(4): Funding For Contracting Of Municipal Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 409
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.
Supplementary To Question 231-13(4): Funding For Contracting Of Municipal Services
Question 231-13(4): Funding For Contracting Of Municipal Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 409
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is exactly what I am trying to say. Communities that go into private contract or the private sector, for road maintenance and what not, do not receive the same amount of funding as communities make who require their own equipment, maintain their own equipment, for which they receive O and M funding and also infrastructure funding. I am wondering why is there such a discretion between communities who do contract work and communities who do not? Could the Minister tell me if they are trying to address that?
Supplementary To Question 231-13(4): Funding For Contracting Of Municipal Services
Question 231-13(4): Funding For Contracting Of Municipal Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 409
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Ms. Thompson.
Further Return To Question 231-13(4): Funding For Contracting Of Municipal Services
Question 231-13(4): Funding For Contracting Of Municipal Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 409
Manitok Thompson Aivilik
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is one of the issues that we are discussing in the municipal financing review. I will get back to the Member after I have talked to my advisors from the department as to how that is going. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Further Return To Question 231-13(4): Funding For Contracting Of Municipal Services
Question 231-13(4): Funding For Contracting Of Municipal Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 409
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.
Supplementary To Question 231-13(4): Funding For Contracting Of Municipal Services
Question 231-13(4): Funding For Contracting Of Municipal Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 409
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In regards to communities that do get into contract services, the Minister also could look at the possibility of allowing those communities to generate revenues through equipment rental or basically servicing an outside contractor who may come into the community who may need that equipment. Can they also have the ability to generate revenues by leasing that service to other clients besides the government?
Supplementary To Question 231-13(4): Funding For Contracting Of Municipal Services
Question 231-13(4): Funding For Contracting Of Municipal Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 409
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Ms. Thompson.
Further Return To Question 231-13(4): Funding For Contracting Of Municipal Services
Question 231-13(4): Funding For Contracting Of Municipal Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 409
Manitok Thompson Aivilik
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of the initiatives that we have that is a priority of this government is community empowerment. If a community wants to do planning ambitioning for their community, how their community wants to operate the functions within their boundaries, then that is an option that they have. This is one of the issues that we are discussing in our department under our municipal operations review. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Further Return To Question 231-13(4): Funding For Contracting Of Municipal Services
Question 231-13(4): Funding For Contracting Of Municipal Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 409
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Krutko.
Supplementary To Question 231-13(4): Funding For Contracting Of Municipal Services
Question 231-13(4): Funding For Contracting Of Municipal Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 409
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In regards to the municipalities having the ability to move revenues around for a certain capital project versus building new structures, that the capital could be used for rent facilities or upgrade facilities, but those revenues are not taken back by this government. Is there a possibility that there is more flexibility to move money around within the municipalities, instead of basically restricting them on the conditions that they are allowed to spend those dollars. Could the Minister tell me if there is a possibility of easing up on those restrictions, so that communities can spend those revenues on other items they may want to use them for, such as a gymnasium, for instance?