Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I apologize if I need to say there is further research required, but again, when it is a co-funded program, often you are debating with the funders of these programs. Recognizing that, we are constantly trying to find ways to improve the level of funding to support the Legal Services Board and the program across the Territories. Thank you.
Debates of March 11th, 2002
This is page numbers 507 - 546 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
Further Return To Question 187-14(5): Lack Of Legal Aid Services
Question 187-14(5): Lack Of Legal Aid Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 521
Further Return To Question 187-14(5): Lack Of Legal Aid Services
Question 187-14(5): Lack Of Legal Aid Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 521
Supplementary To Question 187-14(5): Lack Of Legal Aid Services
Question 187-14(5): Lack Of Legal Aid Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 521
Sandy Lee Range Lake
I will accept that then, if he needs to talk to his federal counterparts for funding. Has he had any meetings with his counterparts? Is there any plan to have a meeting with his counterparts? If he does, will the issue of legal aid funding be on the agenda? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 187-14(5): Lack Of Legal Aid Services
Question 187-14(5): Lack Of Legal Aid Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 521
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Justice, Mr. Allen, a multi-question there.
Further Return To Question 187-14(5): Lack Of Legal Aid Services
Question 187-14(5): Lack Of Legal Aid Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 521
Roger Allen Inuvik Twin Lakes
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, it is an ongoing discussion between our territorial and federal officials. Again, it is not only our jurisdiction, but it is other jurisdictions across the country. They are continuing to communicate with one another to see if they can advocate a funding application to secure more funding for this ongoing program. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 187-14(5): Lack Of Legal Aid Services
Question 187-14(5): Lack Of Legal Aid Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 522
Further Return To Question 187-14(5): Lack Of Legal Aid Services
Question 187-14(5): Lack Of Legal Aid Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 522
The Speaker Tony Whitford
It appears we have a technical problem. We will just take a short recess until the problem is corrected. No, it is corrected. Here we go. Our recess is over. Final supplementary, Ms. Lee.
Supplementary To Question 187-14(5): Lack Of Legal Aid Services
Question 187-14(5): Lack Of Legal Aid Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 522
Sandy Lee Range Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to try a specific question again. Will the Minister advise the House as to whether or not he has any meetings planned, a teleconference, or any specific discussion he is going to have with his counterpart about legal aid funding? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 187-14(5): Lack Of Legal Aid Services
Question 187-14(5): Lack Of Legal Aid Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 522
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Justice, Mr. Allen.
Further Return To Question 187-14(5): Lack Of Legal Aid Services
Question 187-14(5): Lack Of Legal Aid Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 522
Roger Allen Inuvik Twin Lakes
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we will have ongoing communication at the federal level. I am not sure when the next federal/territorial/provincial meeting is scheduled, but in the interim, I will seek the required information and report back to the Member. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 187-14(5): Lack Of Legal Aid Services
Question 187-14(5): Lack Of Legal Aid Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 522
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Nitah.
Question 188-14(5): Mandate Of The NWT Housing Corporation
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 522
Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe
Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation. Mr. Speaker, without discussing this issue with my colleagues, Mr. Krutko and Mr. McLeod, who also raised issues with the Minister, maybe this seems like a theme day from the small communities, but it just goes to show you the importance of housing and the questions and concerns that are raised to us as Members by our constituents on this issue.
Mr. Speaker, housing and education are two of the major themes that contribute to society and how well society does. Therefore, I would like to ask, in the important work of the Housing Corporation, what is the mandate of the Housing Corporation in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.
Question 188-14(5): Mandate Of The NWT Housing Corporation
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 522
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Nitah. The honourable Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation, Mr. Allen, very briefly.
Return To Question 188-14(5): Mandate Of The Nwt Housing Corporation
Question 188-14(5): Mandate Of The NWT Housing Corporation
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 522
Roger Allen Inuvik Twin Lakes
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, the mandate of the NWT Housing Corporation is to provide suitable, affordable and adequate housing to the residents of the Northwest Territories through a number of programs and program deliveries. That is the essence of the mandate. Thank you.
Return To Question 188-14(5): Mandate Of The Nwt Housing Corporation
Question 188-14(5): Mandate Of The NWT Housing Corporation
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 522
Supplementary To Question 188-14(5): Mandate Of The Nwt Housing Corporation
Question 188-14(5): Mandate Of The NWT Housing Corporation
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 522
Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the words suitable, affordable, and sufficient come up quite often when questions are asked of the Minister in this House. I would like to get the Minister's understanding of the definition of those words. What is the definition of suitable, affordable or sufficient housing in the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 188-14(5): Mandate Of The Nwt Housing Corporation
Question 188-14(5): Mandate Of The NWT Housing Corporation
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 522
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Nitah. The honourable Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation, Mr. Allen.
Further Return To Question 188-14(5): Mandate Of The Nwt Housing Corporation
Question 188-14(5): Mandate Of The NWT Housing Corporation
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 522
Roger Allen Inuvik Twin Lakes
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am going to read from the national standard. Suitability refers to the problem of overcrowding, of whether a household has enough bedrooms appropriate for the number of people. Adequacy refers to the physical condition of a dwelling or whether a household has basic facilities to provide a safe and healthy environment. Affordability problems exist when the household pays an excessive amount for shelter. The household has an affordability problem if more than 30 percent of a household's income is paid to shelter costs. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Further Return To Question 188-14(5): Mandate Of The Nwt Housing Corporation
Question 188-14(5): Mandate Of The NWT Housing Corporation
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 522
Supplementary To Question 188-14(5): Mandate Of The Nwt Housing Corporation
Question 188-14(5): Mandate Of The NWT Housing Corporation
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 522
Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that is a pretty good answer. I like that answer, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, what takes precedence, local housing authority policy or the mandate of the corporation? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 188-14(5): Mandate Of The Nwt Housing Corporation
Question 188-14(5): Mandate Of The NWT Housing Corporation
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 522
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Nitah. The honourable Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation, Mr. Allen.
Further Return To Question 188-14(5): Mandate Of The Nwt Housing Corporation
Question 188-14(5): Mandate Of The NWT Housing Corporation
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 522
Roger Allen Inuvik Twin Lakes
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The local housing authority or organization is an agent of the NWT Housing Corporation, so the Housing Corporation sets out the policy reflective of the government-wide vision. We in turn interpret that and work with the local housing organizations to ensure that those three contributing factors are met. That is the importance of our role in support of the housing programs. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 188-14(5): Mandate Of The Nwt Housing Corporation
Question 188-14(5): Mandate Of The NWT Housing Corporation
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 522
Supplementary To Question 188-14(5): Mandate Of The Nwt Housing Corporation
Question 188-14(5): Mandate Of The NWT Housing Corporation
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 522
Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, much like the conflict in the Middle East, in the Northwest Territories there is a catch-22 situation that happens with the local housing authority's policy and the issue of adequacy in housing conditions. A lot of people in the Northwest Territories in public housing complain about the adequacy of the houses and therefore are not paying the rents that are required of them when they are in public housing. Now at the local level there are policies in place that say that if you do not pay your bills we will not provide you with suitable housing in terms of the number of people in houses.
What is the Minister going to do in those situations where there is a conflict, a catch-22 situation where people say, "We will not pay you rent because the house is not adequate," and the local housing authority says, "We are not going to provide you with a four-bedroom unit when you need four bedrooms and you are in a two-bedroom unit now because you are not paying the rent." What wins out, the mandate or the local housing authority policy? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 188-14(5): Mandate Of The Nwt Housing Corporation
Question 188-14(5): Mandate Of The NWT Housing Corporation
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 523
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Nitah. The honourable Minister responsible for Housing, Mr. Allen.