I think it must be a full moon. Mr. Lafferty, on your point of order, you do not have a point of order. The Minister was not speaking to the motion on the agenda. He was answering a question from a Member. I would like to caution everybody that any questions should not refer to the harmonization because it is a motion on the orders for today. There is going to be a motion to deal with that. So just to caution Members. Mr. Lafferty, you do not have a point of order. Mr. Nitah.
Debates of March 7th, 2003
This is page numbers 579 - 610 of the Hansard for the 14th 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 going.
Topics
Further Return To Question 190-14(6): Classifications Of Income For Income Support Purposes
Question 190-14(6): Classifications Of Income For Income Support Purposes
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 592
Question 191-14(6): New Rent Scale Based On Income
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 592
Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe
Mr. Speaker, the second paragraph of the vision statement of the NWT Housing Corporation states, "By working together, all community residents are provided with opportunities for homes that support a healthy, secure, independent and dignified lifestyle." Because of this new rent scale based on income that was not used today but will be introduced in April, resulting in month-to-month rent scale changes, could I ask the Minister where does that guarantee security when a person can't plan for three or four months down the road because they have to worry about the rent they are going to pay next month? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 191-14(6): New Rent Scale Based On Income
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 592
The Deputy Speaker David Krutko
Mr. Nitah, your question is out of order. It is dealing with an item that is going to be coming forth by way of a motion. Your question is out of order. Mr. Lafferty.
---Ruled Out of Order
Question 192-14(6): Rent Increases In Public Housing
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 592
Leon Lafferty North Slave
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Honourable Roger Allen, Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation. I would like to ask the Minister, in the last few months, have there been any increases in rents in the Territories?
Question 192-14(6): Rent Increases In Public Housing
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 592
Return To Question 192-14(6): Rent Increases In Public Housing
Question 192-14(6): Rent Increases In Public Housing
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 593
Roger Allen Inuvik Twin Lakes
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If we are talking about public housing in the NWT, there's been status quo. If you are talking about private rental markets, yes, there's been a drastic increase. We have been trying to deal with that in the context of other questions raised in the House. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Return To Question 192-14(6): Rent Increases In Public Housing
Question 192-14(6): Rent Increases In Public Housing
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 593
Supplementary To Question 192-14(6): Rent Increases In Public Housing
Question 192-14(6): Rent Increases In Public Housing
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 593
Leon Lafferty North Slave
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have information today. I got a fax saying there's been an increase in the of amount $200 in the rental market in public housing in the last few months. Can the Minister tell me if that's the case in Rae-Edzo? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 192-14(6): Rent Increases In Public Housing
Question 192-14(6): Rent Increases In Public Housing
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 593
Further Return To Question 192-14(6): Rent Increases In Public Housing
Question 192-14(6): Rent Increases In Public Housing
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 593
Roger Allen Inuvik Twin Lakes
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will only talk to the process because it is a process question. Each public housing tenant is obligated to verify income once each month at the local housing association or local housing authority. From there, their rents are assessed based on their monthly income. That is part of the process. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Further Return To Question 192-14(6): Rent Increases In Public Housing
Question 192-14(6): Rent Increases In Public Housing
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 593
Supplementary To Question 192-14(6): Rent Increases In Public Housing
Question 192-14(6): Rent Increases In Public Housing
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 593
Leon Lafferty North Slave
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister if he could get his department to go into my community of Rae-Edzo and see if the information I received is correct. There are notices. I have had access to two, one on income support and one on seniors where their rents are going to be increased by about $200 a month. This is just an increase in rent. That's all it says on there. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 192-14(6): Rent Increases In Public Housing
Question 192-14(6): Rent Increases In Public Housing
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 593
Further Return To Question 192-14(6): Rent Increases In Public Housing
Question 192-14(6): Rent Increases In Public Housing
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 593
Roger Allen Inuvik Twin Lakes
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There tends to be a misconception on the process. The letters were sent out to advise the tenant that there may be an increase or decrease. There is a form that we use to calculate the rent scales. It's just a formal letter to advise the tenant that they may be assessed. Since then, there's been some change in the way we are going to calculate those rents that's based on assessed rent scales. As I stated a number of times in the past, we will continue to work with the tenants to help them understand how their rents will be applied. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Further Return To Question 192-14(6): Rent Increases In Public Housing
Question 192-14(6): Rent Increases In Public Housing
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 593
Supplementary To Question 192-14(6): Rent Increases In Public Housing
Question 192-14(6): Rent Increases In Public Housing
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 593
Leon Lafferty North Slave
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister will say yes or no, if he would get his department to look into the situation in Rae? Yes or no.
Supplementary To Question 192-14(6): Rent Increases In Public Housing
Question 192-14(6): Rent Increases In Public Housing
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 593
Further Return To Question 192-14(6): Rent Increases In Public Housing
Question 192-14(6): Rent Increases In Public Housing
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 593
Roger Allen Inuvik Twin Lakes
Mr. Speaker, under agreements with a majority of communities across the NWT, there are LHOs that have given proper training. We have provided them with all the necessary information and detailed packages, so they may work with the tenants. Specific to the Member's community, we have been there on one occasion and our senior staff continually travel to Rae to provide that level of advice. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Further Return To Question 192-14(6): Rent Increases In Public Housing
Question 192-14(6): Rent Increases In Public Housing
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 593
Question 193-14(6): Conflict Declaration On Government Initiative
Item 6: Oral Questions
March 6th, 2003
Page 593
Michael McLeod Deh Cho
Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Roger Allen. Earlier this week, Mr. Allen indicated that he had declared conflict on a certain initiative and he indicated that he approached the secretary to Cabinet to seek advice. I would like to ask the Minister if that is standard practice. Why did he go to the secretary to Cabinet for advice? Is she an expert in the field of conflict of interest, Mr. Speaker?
Question 193-14(6): Conflict Declaration On Government Initiative
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 593
Return To Question 193-14(6): Conflict Declaration On Government Initiative
Question 193-14(6): Conflict Declaration On Government Initiative
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 593
Roger Allen Inuvik Twin Lakes
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I approached the Cabinet secretary office personally to ensure I was not in conflict because there were relatives who occupied public housing in my riding and I felt it was my duty to approach someone for advisement under the conflict of interest, Mr. Speaker.
Return To Question 193-14(6): Conflict Declaration On Government Initiative
Question 193-14(6): Conflict Declaration On Government Initiative
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 593
Supplementary To Question 193-14(6): Conflict Declaration On Government Initiative
Question 193-14(6): Conflict Declaration On Government Initiative
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 593
Michael McLeod Deh Cho
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister tell us if the Conflict of Interest Commissioner ever came back with an opinion whether the Member was actually in conflict or not?
Supplementary To Question 193-14(6): Conflict Declaration On Government Initiative
Question 193-14(6): Conflict Declaration On Government Initiative
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 593