This is page numbers 509 - 545 of the Hansard for the 13th Assembly, 6th 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 conflict.

Topics

Question 257-13(6): New Down Payment Pilot Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

December 3rd, 1998

Page 521

James Rabesca North Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Regarding the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation's statement, regarding the New Homeownership Pilot Program for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, that he alluded to. Is it geared mainly to purchase a new homeownership along side, the same statement, this morning he alluded to, across the Northwest Territories, there are approximately over 250 private homes sitting empty and he alluded to say let us give the people a chance to buy these homes. What I am trying to get at is that maybe the Minister is telling us that this program is only intended to, or not intended to buy new homes, or is it intended to buy used homes? I would like to have the Minister's clarification on this, please. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Acting Premier, Mr. Arlooktoo.

Return To Question 257-13(6): New Down Payment Pilot Program
Question 257-13(6): New Down Payment Pilot Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 521

Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. MDAPP is geared towards the purchase of existing homes. The homes I talked about that are sitting empty in communities across the Northwest Territories, including the Member's communities and that, I think, counterbalances, in a way, the other program that we have, EDAP, the Expanded Down Payment Assistance Program, which is more geared towards the purchase or the building of a new home, although it could be used for existing homes and, also, the money that we set aside for social housing. It is towards the purchase of existing homes that are sitting empty in these communities. Thank you.

Return To Question 257-13(6): New Down Payment Pilot Program
Question 257-13(6): New Down Payment Pilot Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 521

The Speaker

Oral questions. Mr. Roland.

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question would be directed to the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation. In my Member's statement, I raised concerns of the situation that has come about in Inuvik which will affect many residents, as well as government departments, and

it is regarding the wood and piling situation. I believe there are other communities this would affect as well, but I like to get some information from the Minister. I have spoken with him and his department raising this issue and I know that work is undergoing right now regarding the cost impact to residents. I would like to know from the Minister if there are other avenues that are available for residents in my community that they might be able to seek financial support for doing the necessary repairs that are required? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation, Mr. Arlooktoo.

Return To Question 258-13(6): Addressing Inuvik Foundation Problems
Question 258-13(6): Addressing Inuvik Foundation Problems
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 522

Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is an issue I have discussed with the Housing Corporation and other government departments. We now are starting to realize the complexity and maybe the potential high cost in having to deal with the problem and also the seriousness. The Member, in a committee meeting a couple of weeks ago, told us about an incident on August 19th where a home actually toppled over because of the pilings being eroded so badly and consequently, the town, the housing authority and the Housing Corporation, after a survey, found that it was quite widespread and fortunately, fairly unique to the Town of Inuvik.

We have started several actions. One is we have set aside $450,000 that would be provided to the Inuvik Housing Authority to start developing a plan to start making repairs to the problem. There are three other avenues available that we are looking at. One is through EDAP, which has a section in it that can be used to repair homes. Another one is our emergency repair program and finally, the third one which we will need the support and assistance of the Town of Inuvik and the housing authority and the MLA, is approaching the federal government to see if there is a way of perhaps obtaining some federal disaster relief or some kind of program like that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 258-13(6): Addressing Inuvik Foundation Problems
Question 258-13(6): Addressing Inuvik Foundation Problems
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 522

The Speaker

Oral Questions. Supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Supplementary To Question 258-13(6): Addressing Inuvik Foundation Problems
Question 258-13(6): Addressing Inuvik Foundation Problems
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 522

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for his response and I am interested in what approach should be taken, especially with the last item he mentioned being that the possibility of looking to the federal government for some source of funding. Could the Minister inform me if the process was necessary? Do I need to go back to the Council of Inuvik and residents to begin something there? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 258-13(6): Addressing Inuvik Foundation Problems
Question 258-13(6): Addressing Inuvik Foundation Problems
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 522

The Speaker

Mr. Arlooktoo.

Further Return To Question 258-13(6): Addressing Inuvik Foundation Problems
Question 258-13(6): Addressing Inuvik Foundation Problems
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 522

Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a situation where all the parties need to work together to make as good a case as possible to ask the federal government for some relief and some resources. It is difficult to say at this point what the response might be, but my suggestion would be that the attempt be coordinated and that yes, the MLA being in contact with the town would be certainly a good move. I will make sure that whatever actions we have taken is given, the correspondence, et cetera, is given to the MLA and to the town. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 258-13(6): Addressing Inuvik Foundation Problems
Question 258-13(6): Addressing Inuvik Foundation Problems
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 522

The Speaker

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Supplementary To Question 258-13(6): Addressing Inuvik Foundation Problems
Question 258-13(6): Addressing Inuvik Foundation Problems
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 522

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for giving me the information that he will provide me with. Could he inform me if the department could work with me and possibly come up to the Town of Inuvik and we will arrange that meeting at that time and trying to pursue this issue further? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 258-13(6): Addressing Inuvik Foundation Problems
Question 258-13(6): Addressing Inuvik Foundation Problems
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 522

The Speaker

Mr. Arlooktoo.

Further Return To Question 258-13(6): Addressing Inuvik Foundation Problems
Question 258-13(6): Addressing Inuvik Foundation Problems
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 522

Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is a possibility of myself or at the very least, sending my staff to Inuvik. I do have staff in Inuvik that have been working on this issue and perhaps if I could clarify by pointing out again, who is doing what. The Housing Corporation, at this point in time, is trying to deal with repairs and damage to eroding piles to the public. Public homes to social housing units that we own and upright. MACA, I understand is taking a lead on dealing with working with the town on their infrastructure. There are also the additional private homes. The private businesses, after the survey, we found after testing the piling they had used many years ago, had not been treated and were none of the correct types. In saying that, I will work with the Member to see what the next step we could take. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 258-13(6): Addressing Inuvik Foundation Problems
Question 258-13(6): Addressing Inuvik Foundation Problems
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 522

The Speaker

Oral questions. Mr. Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is addressed to the Minister of FMBS. It is in regard to the UNW, the collective bargaining process and the pay equity issue. The Minister indicated yesterday that he intended to approach the UNW on an alternative way of possibly dealing with the pay equity issue. Could the Minister elaborate on that please so we have a clear understanding of what this innovative way might be? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board, Mr. Todd.

Return To Question 259-13(6): Collective Bargaining And Pay Equity
Question 259-13(6): Collective Bargaining And Pay Equity
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 522

John Todd Keewatin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it has been the argument over the last five or six months that the pay equity issue is not on the bargaining table and, in fact, not a collective bargaining issue. There was some dispute particularly with myself if in fact that was true.

We have asked our justice and legal people if, in fact, the pay equity issue, if it is not a collective bargaining issue, can it be a sidebar issue, that we can take direct to our employees indicating to them on an individual basis what the impact will be if we can reach an agreement on a pay equity proposal that we have on the table; outlining on an individual basis to each employee, what the retroactive pay would be, what the result would be on their ongoing pay cheques if you want, and ask them whether they agree or disagree with this proposal.

Our proposed choice of action is that we would go with the UNW, our partners in this bargaining process, and ask them as agents for the staff to take this out. Our lead negotiator has written to the UNW president about this issue and I am hopeful that we can get it resolved to the collective bargaining proposal on the table, and come to an agreement as to how we can provide our employees with the information on an individual basis of what pay equity, retroactivity, and ongoing means to them. Thank you.

Return To Question 259-13(6): Collective Bargaining And Pay Equity
Question 259-13(6): Collective Bargaining And Pay Equity
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 523

The Speaker

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Supplementary To Question 259-13(6): Collective Bargaining And Pay Equity
Question 259-13(6): Collective Bargaining And Pay Equity
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 523

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Could the Minister clarify whether the information being sent to the employees would it be, in fact, information or would they be voting on an individual basis or deciding on an individual basis whether they accepted the offer that was put to them? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 259-13(6): Collective Bargaining And Pay Equity
Question 259-13(6): Collective Bargaining And Pay Equity
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 523

The Speaker

Mr. Todd.

Further Return To Question 259-13(6): Collective Bargaining And Pay Equity
Question 259-13(6): Collective Bargaining And Pay Equity
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 523

John Todd Keewatin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, I would be hesitant at this stage of the discussions to sort of pre-empt the discussions that are underway right now with my staff in the UNW. My position has been clear from the very beginning, and that is I fundamentally believe that the pay equity issue that we put on the table, the Hay Plan Job Evaluation System, is a fair one. I have consistently said I would like to get the money in the hands of our employees. So, it would be premature, I think for me to say today how those discussions will unfold.

I will say that I would encourage the UNW to work with us and to see if we can come to an agreement so that each and every one of our employees understands what the net fiscal benefit is to them by accepting the pay equity solution that we put forward. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 259-13(6): Collective Bargaining And Pay Equity
Question 259-13(6): Collective Bargaining And Pay Equity
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 523

The Speaker

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Supplementary To Question 259-13(6): Collective Bargaining And Pay Equity
Question 259-13(6): Collective Bargaining And Pay Equity
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 523

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Could the Minister indicate whether, in fact, it is essential or mandatory for the union's concurrence or is it just something that would be nice to have that you could still possibly proceed? Thank you.