Debates of March 1st, 2002

This is page numbers 277 - 299 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 5th 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

Members Present
Item 1: Prayer
Replacement Of Inuvik's Aurora Campus Student Residence
Alcohol Consumption During Sporting Events
Child Apprehension
High Rates Of Cancer Diagnosis In The Dogrib Region
Market Disruption Caused By Government Lending Programs
19th Annual K'amba Carnival
Status Of The Giant Mine Cleanup
Return To Oral Question 25-14(5): Human Resource Management Policy
Aurora College Campus And Residence
Incidence Of Cancer In The North Slave
Student Support Funding
Apprehension Of Children
GNWT Role In Giant Mine Cleanup
Request For Fort Providence Swimming Pool
Human Resources Action Plan
Child Psychologist In Yellowknife
Arsenic Trioxide At Giant Mine
Item 15: Notices Of Motion For First Reading Of Bills
Bill 9: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 2001-2002
Bill 10: An Act To Amend The Income Tax Act
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Nursing Profession Act And The Pharmacy Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Completion Of A Timber Inventory By 2003-2004 (carried)
use Of Northern Businesses And Labour
recruitment, Retention And Training
gravel Access Roads
recommendation 1
community Access Roads
corporate Capital Planning Process
highway Investment Strategy
Incorporating A Separate Program For Access Roads To Gravel Sources (carried)
Introduction
Caucus Priorities And The Northwest Territories Housing Corporation
Co-operation Between Nwthc And Municipal And Community Affairs
Canada Mortgage And Housing Corporation And Private Developers
Lot Development In The City Of Yellowknife
Business Development And The Alaska Market
Recommendation 1
Energy Efficiency In Public Housing
Nwthc Housing Programs Delivered By Local Housing Authorities
Recommendation 2
Further Information Required By Standing Committee
Recommendation 3
Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Item 22: Orders Of The Day

Energy Efficiency In Public Housing
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

February 28th, 2002

Page 298

Brendan Bell

Brendan Bell Yellowknife South

The Standing Committee on Social Programs was generally pleased with the efforts of the NWT Housing Corporation to ensure that public housing units are as energy efficient as possible.

Members of the committee look forward to being kept apprised of the status of the study being conducted by the Arctic Energy Alliance to help the local housing authorities realize energy savings.

Should the study show that savings could be realized by the replacement of energy inefficient appliances and furnaces, Members would expect to see a capital replacement plan developed.

Nwthc Housing Programs Delivered By Local Housing Authorities
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 298

Brendan Bell

Brendan Bell Yellowknife South

The committee has always supported the devolution of decision-making to the local level for the delivery of housing programs. However, because of the potential for abuse, committee members believe that devolution of this decision-making process to the community level does not absolve the NWT Housing Corporation of a responsibility to ensure access and program delivery fairness.

The recent court case involving fraud and theft from a local housing authority has highlighted the need for due diligence and oversight of the activities of local housing authorities and raised concerns that this may not be an isolated issue.

Members of the committee would like to see a regular review process of the housing programs delivered by local housing authorities conducted by the NWT Housing Corporation to ensure access and program delivery fairness.

Recommendation 2
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 298

Brendan Bell

Brendan Bell Yellowknife South

The Standing Committee on Social Programs recommends that the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation conduct regular reviews and operational audits of the local housing authorities that deliver housing programs on behalf of the corporation to ensure access and program delivery fairness.

Further Information Required By Standing Committee
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 298

Brendan Bell

Brendan Bell Yellowknife South

In discussions with the Minister and his officials, Members were interested to hear that in addition to the rent-supplement leases administered by the corporation, there were many more that were administered by the local housing authority. Members of the committee are concerned that because of these flow-through funding arrangements, the committee has no sense of the amount of money and the number of housing units that are truly under the rent-supplement program.

Members are also concerned about how loan guarantees are being made by the Housing Corporation. The committee has not been provided with a listing of the loan guarantees that have been provided by the Housing Corporation to private developers and aboriginal development corporations.

Recommendation 3
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 298

Brendan Bell

Brendan Bell Yellowknife South

The Standing Committee on Social Programs recommends that the NWT Housing Corporation provide the committee with biannual statistics on the number and costs of all rent supplement units in the Northwest Territories and a listing of all loan guarantees and amounts made to developers by the NWT Housing Corporation.

Mr. Chairman, that concludes the Standing Committee on Social Programs' review of the NWT Housing Corporation. Thank you.

Recommendation 3
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 298

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Thank you, Mr. Bell. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Lafferty.

Recommendation 3
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 298

Leon Lafferty North Slave

I move we report progress.

Recommendation 3
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 298

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

The Member has moved to report progress. The motion is not debatable. All those in favour? All those against? The motion is carried. I will rise and report progress.

Recommendation 3
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 298

The Speaker

The House will come back to order. Item 20, report of committee of the whole. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole

Page 299

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Bill 2, Committee Report 2-14(5), Committee Report 3-14(5), and would like to report progress with two motions being adopted. Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of the committee of the whole be concurred with.

Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole

Page 299

The Speaker

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Do we have a seconder for the motion? The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee, seconds the motion. There is motion on the floor. The motion is in order. All those in favour, please signify. Thank you. All those opposed? Thank you. The motion is carried. Item 21, third reading of bills. Mr. Clerk, orders of the day.

Item 22: Orders Of The Day
Item 22: Orders Of The Day

Page 299

Clerk Of The Assembly Mr. David Hamilton

Mr. Speaker, there will be a meeting of the Standing Committee on Social Programs at adjournment today; on Monday at 9:00 a.m. of the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight and Cabinet House Strategy; and also at 12 noon of the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight.

Orders of the day for Monday, March 4, 2002:

  1. Prayer
  2. Ministers' Statements
  3. Members' Statements
  4. Returns to Oral Questions
  5. Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
  6. Oral Questions
  7. Written Questions
  8. Returns to Written Questions
  9. Replies to Opening Address
  10. Petitions
  11. Reports of Standing and Special Committees
  12. Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills
  13. Tabling of Documents
  14. Notices of Motion
  15. Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills
  16. Motions
  17. First Reading of Bills

-Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly Retiring Allowances Act and the Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act

-Bill 9, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 2001-2002

-Bill 10, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act

  1. Second Reading of Bills

-Bill 8, An Act to Amend the Nursing Profession Act and the Pharmacy Act

  1. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

-Bill 2, Appropriation Act, 2002-2003

-Bill 4, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act

-Committee Report 1-14(5), Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight Report on the Review of the 2002-2003 Main Estimates

-Committee Report 2-14(5), Standing Committee on Governance and Economic Development Report on the Review of the 2002-2003 Main Estimates

-Committee Report 3-14(5), Standing Committee on Social Programs Report on the Review of the 2002-2003 Main Estimates

-Motion 1-14(5), Establishment of a Special Committee on Rural Community Affairs

  1. Report of Committee of the Whole
  2. Third Reading of Bills
  3. Orders of the Day

Item 22: Orders Of The Day
Item 22: Orders Of The Day

Page 299

The Speaker

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Before we break, I would like to wish honourable Members who are going home to celebrate at festivals this weekend a safe and enjoyable weekend. Accordingly, this House stands adjourned until Monday, March 4, 2002, at 1:30 p.m.

-- ADJOURNMENT

The House adjourned at 1:20 p.m.