Mr. Minister.
Debates of July 5th, 2000
This is page numbers 467 - 532 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 3rd 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 chairman.
Topics
Committee Motion 19-14(3): Recommendation That The GNWT Not Make Any Further Reductions In Funding To The Northwest Territories Transportation System (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 517
The Chair Leon Lafferty
Committee Motion 19-14(3): Recommendation That The GNWT Not Make Any Further Reductions In Funding To The Northwest Territories Transportation System (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 517
Roger Allen Inuvik Twin Lakes
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I believe the opening sentence of my presentation really reflects what we are trying to achieve here, Towards a Better Tomorrow. When we talk about working closer with the communities, we have to have a mechanism where we are be able to get quicker, faster access to the people to help them meet their basic needs.
In our case, we are finding that there is a severe need for more affordable, more suitable and better housing conditions. The idea behind putting two new offices in place is really not new. We did have sub-offices in those two communities. We are just strengthening it by putting them in, turning them into a district office where they can have easier access to programs, easier access to the staff and the logistics. That is the emphasis of the statement. Thank you.
Committee Motion 19-14(3): Recommendation That The GNWT Not Make Any Further Reductions In Funding To The Northwest Territories Transportation System (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 517
The Chair Leon Lafferty
Ms. Lee.
Committee Motion 19-14(3): Recommendation That The GNWT Not Make Any Further Reductions In Funding To The Northwest Territories Transportation System (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 517
Sandy Lee Range Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I do not believe the Minister answered my question about what he meant by the last sentence, except to say how important it is to have a single agency dedicated solely to improving housing conditions. What did he mean by that? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Committee Motion 19-14(3): Recommendation That The GNWT Not Make Any Further Reductions In Funding To The Northwest Territories Transportation System (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 517
Committee Motion 19-14(3): Recommendation That The GNWT Not Make Any Further Reductions In Funding To The Northwest Territories Transportation System (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 517
Roger Allen Inuvik Twin Lakes
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In trying to give a more definitive answer, I am going to call upon Jeff Anderson to respond to that question. Thank you.
Committee Motion 19-14(3): Recommendation That The GNWT Not Make Any Further Reductions In Funding To The Northwest Territories Transportation System (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 517
Committee Motion 19-14(3): Recommendation That The GNWT Not Make Any Further Reductions In Funding To The Northwest Territories Transportation System (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 517
Anderson
Thank you. I believe the rationale for putting that in there is that because social housing is such a critical problem, particularly in the smaller communities across the Northwest Territories, when you have one agency that deals with a programming side, the technical side and your delivery of the programs that you offer, it adds a lot of efficiency to meeting the needs of the local residents.
The Housing Corporation was originally established in 1974. Prior to that, several different departments had the responsibility of working together to meet these needs. It was not working at that time and that is why one of the decisions was made to set up a Housing Corporation to show that the government is focused on dealing with these problems. That is the essence of that statement. Thank you.
Committee Motion 19-14(3): Recommendation That The GNWT Not Make Any Further Reductions In Funding To The Northwest Territories Transportation System (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 517
Committee Motion 19-14(3): Recommendation That The GNWT Not Make Any Further Reductions In Funding To The Northwest Territories Transportation System (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 517
Sandy Lee Range Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I understand what Mr. Anderson just said to mean that the Minister's vision for the appropriation is status quo. I need to ask the Minister if that is a sentiment he agrees with? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Committee Motion 19-14(3): Recommendation That The GNWT Not Make Any Further Reductions In Funding To The Northwest Territories Transportation System (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 517
Committee Motion 19-14(3): Recommendation That The GNWT Not Make Any Further Reductions In Funding To The Northwest Territories Transportation System (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 517
Roger Allen Inuvik Twin Lakes
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I find no better way of trying to explain it. Just to ascertain our position, I believe we are just trying to reinforce the false statement made by Mr. Anderson.
Committee Motion 19-14(3): Recommendation That The GNWT Not Make Any Further Reductions In Funding To The Northwest Territories Transportation System (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 517
Committee Motion 19-14(3): Recommendation That The GNWT Not Make Any Further Reductions In Funding To The Northwest Territories Transportation System (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 517
Committee Motion 19-14(3): Recommendation That The GNWT Not Make Any Further Reductions In Funding To The Northwest Territories Transportation System (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 517
Committee Motion 19-14(3): Recommendation That The GNWT Not Make Any Further Reductions In Funding To The Northwest Territories Transportation System (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 517
Paul Delorey Hay River North
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would just like to address for a minute the Corporation's program for independent housing programs. I am sure that, although they are spending millions of dollars in this area, like every other department they could spend a lot more money. I am sure the people who do receive help from the Corporation in getting into a house and helping with a mortgage are very appreciative of the fact. I understand the Housing Corporation has a certain criteria and standards that have to be met whenever they are putting money into helping individuals into housing programs.
I understand that one of the criteria they require before somebody can access funding through the Corporation for a certain unit, is that unit meets Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation standards. I would like to ask the department, what exactly does that mean to them?
When they say that a building has to meet Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation standards, what exactly does it mean? I know from being involved in the construction business for awhile, whenever you are building a house, you have to deal with by-laws and manufacturer's standards that say it has to meet Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation approval. It is pretty rigid. If the inspector comes around and looks at it and says it is not Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation approved or it does not meet the standards, then forget about building it because they will put a stop order on your work right away.
I am just wondering if in fact the Corporation does have that standard, that criteria in their program. If it does, who do they have that tells them that a building meets Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation standards? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Committee Motion 19-14(3): Recommendation That The GNWT Not Make Any Further Reductions In Funding To The Northwest Territories Transportation System (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 518
Committee Motion 19-14(3): Recommendation That The GNWT Not Make Any Further Reductions In Funding To The Northwest Territories Transportation System (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 518
Roger Allen Inuvik Twin Lakes
Mr. Chairman, if I can refer the question to the president of the Housing Corporation.
Committee Motion 19-14(3): Recommendation That The GNWT Not Make Any Further Reductions In Funding To The Northwest Territories Transportation System (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 518
Committee Motion 19-14(3): Recommendation That The GNWT Not Make Any Further Reductions In Funding To The Northwest Territories Transportation System (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 518
Beaulieu
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation requirements or standards are put into the units at the point when the units are designed. The design people at the Corporation follow the regulations that are put out by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation at that time.
Committee Motion 19-14(3): Recommendation That The GNWT Not Make Any Further Reductions In Funding To The Northwest Territories Transportation System (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 518
Committee Motion 19-14(3): Recommendation That The GNWT Not Make Any Further Reductions In Funding To The Northwest Territories Transportation System (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 518
Paul Delorey Hay River North
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Could the Minister tell me if that requirement for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation approval also applies to an existing home for which a person is accessing funding through the program to purchase?
I am not talking about a new construction, but I am talking about an existing home. Is it inspected? Is there criteria that the house has to meet, such as the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation standards, before the Corporation will put money into it? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Committee Motion 19-14(3): Recommendation That The GNWT Not Make Any Further Reductions In Funding To The Northwest Territories Transportation System (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 518
Committee Motion 19-14(3): Recommendation That The GNWT Not Make Any Further Reductions In Funding To The Northwest Territories Transportation System (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 518
Roger Allen Inuvik Twin Lakes
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Again, I refer the question to the president of the Housing Corporation, who is more familiar with the essence of the question. Thank you.
Committee Motion 19-14(3): Recommendation That The GNWT Not Make Any Further Reductions In Funding To The Northwest Territories Transportation System (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 518