This is page numbers 69 - 100 of the Hansard for the 15th Assembly, 4th 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 communities.

Topics

Return To Question 46-15(4): Youth Contribution Program Funding For Nahendeh
Question 46-15(4): Youth Contribution Program Funding For Nahendeh
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 83

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 46-15(4): Youth Contribution Program Funding For Nahendeh
Question 46-15(4): Youth Contribution Program Funding For Nahendeh
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 84

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. I guess a little bit of clarification is in order for the Minister. During my recent tour I went to Wrigley and Fort Liard and the students there were looking at traveling for track and then going down for some orientation and looking at some areas of further education down in Alberta. I went to the Minister and asked him, I said look, these communities need help. He said no, we cannot help them. I said, well why? The official response was we have no more money in the pot. My question to the Minister, Madam Speaker, is why do we not have any more money? This is still May and we just received a new budget two months ago. My question to the Minister is why don't we have any money to assist these communities and these youth organizations? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 46-15(4): Youth Contribution Program Funding For Nahendeh
Question 46-15(4): Youth Contribution Program Funding For Nahendeh
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 84

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 46-15(4): Youth Contribution Program Funding For Nahendeh
Question 46-15(4): Youth Contribution Program Funding For Nahendeh
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 84

Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, some of the regions have already allocated all of their money. For the program that the Member is referring to, the Youth Contributions Program, we have $125,000 for 33 communities across the Territories. That doesn't go very far. We have looked at different ways to try to make the dollars stretch a little further. We have looked at capping the amounts that we make in terms of contributions. We have looked at limiting the different organizations in the communities. We are trying to find ways to be able to spread that around a little further, but up until now that is all the money that we have to deal with. That was the amount approved in the budget, so it really restricts us on the number of applications that come forward from all the different communities. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Further Return To Question 46-15(4): Youth Contribution Program Funding For Nahendeh
Question 46-15(4): Youth Contribution Program Funding For Nahendeh
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 84

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 46-15(4): Youth Contribution Program Funding For Nahendeh
Question 46-15(4): Youth Contribution Program Funding For Nahendeh
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 84

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am sure that the government and the Minister are well aware that many of these smaller communities have no other resources, such as the larger communities which can go to industry and can go to private enterprises. Small communities, Madam Speaker, like Wrigley and even Fort Liard to some extent, don't have those opportunities to ask other areas. They are coming to me and I am asking the government look, we have to help them out and they are telling me no. I am saying when is this government going to help our small communities? They must know that they have no other sources to go to. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 46-15(4): Youth Contribution Program Funding For Nahendeh
Question 46-15(4): Youth Contribution Program Funding For Nahendeh
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 84

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 46-15(4): Youth Contribution Program Funding For Nahendeh
Question 46-15(4): Youth Contribution Program Funding For Nahendeh
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 84

Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, we have a $1 million budget in the area of youth programs and three-quarters of that, or $750,000, is budgeted for Youth Corp Programs. There is $125,000 for the youth contributions. There is some money for a youth program advisor. All the money that we have in our budget goes to the communities. We recognize that the needs and requests that are coming forward are a lot more than we can accommodate. I am certainly willing to provide a breakdown of the money that was allocated to the Member's riding, for him to see where the money has been spent and to have further discussion with him to see how we can make the dollars go further in his riding. The southern communities have historically applied earlier on for the different funds to go on different trips and, of course, because we're very limited in where we can spend that money, it doesn't go very far. But I certainly would like to sit down with the Member and point out and outline all the different programs we have for funding and also give him a breakdown of what was spent or where this money that was allocated to his region, his riding, was spent. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Further Return To Question 46-15(4): Youth Contribution Program Funding For Nahendeh
Question 46-15(4): Youth Contribution Program Funding For Nahendeh
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 84

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 46-15(4): Youth Contribution Program Funding For Nahendeh
Question 46-15(4): Youth Contribution Program Funding For Nahendeh
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 84

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would very much look forward to the Minister providing that information to me and if they can provide it before we leave this session this week. It's just that myself and the Minister and the government are aware of the small communities, but I think what's happening, Madam Speaker, is that in the small communities' perspective this does not exist in our bureaucracy. So we're going to have to look at some way of addressing that. Once again, if the Minister will provide that information to me before we leave this session, that will be appreciated. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 46-15(4): Youth Contribution Program Funding For Nahendeh
Question 46-15(4): Youth Contribution Program Funding For Nahendeh
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 84

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 46-15(4): Youth Contribution Program Funding For Nahendeh
Question 46-15(4): Youth Contribution Program Funding For Nahendeh
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 84

Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, we certainly would be pleased to provide that information. As I indicated before, our dollars flow out to the communities. A number of projects were funded over the years in the Member's riding. We'd be pleased to share that information. Of course, we're always looking at any way we can supplement our budget. We'd like to see the youth programming and youth projects increase. So we will be maintaining another ask for any new monies that come forward from the federal government or to this government, and we'd certainly keep our interests forward for all the different communities. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 46-15(4): Youth Contribution Program Funding For Nahendeh
Question 46-15(4): Youth Contribution Program Funding For Nahendeh
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 84

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The time for question period is over. Item 7, written questions. Item 8, returns to written questions. Item 9, replies to opening address. Mr. Hawkins.

Further Return To Question 46-15(4): Youth Contribution Program Funding For Nahendeh
Question 46-15(4): Youth Contribution Program Funding For Nahendeh
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 84

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to return to item 6 on today's agenda. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 46-15(4): Youth Contribution Program Funding For Nahendeh
Question 46-15(4): Youth Contribution Program Funding For Nahendeh
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 84

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The Member is seeking unanimous consent to return to item 6,

oral questions. Are there any nays? There are no nays. We will return to item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, it's been reported in the newspaper and a couple days in the House regarding the housing situation that my honourable colleagues have been asking the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation. I'd like to ask the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation about the programs and how that has impacted our region in the Sahtu with regard to the types of programs that have been talked about in the House in recent days. Thank you.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Krutko.

Return To Question 47-15(4): Administration Of The Homeownership Program (edap)
Question 47-15(4): Administration Of The Homeownership Program (edap)
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 85

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, in regard to the EDAP program, as we all know that's probably one of the programs that we've been able to get the most mileage out of and I think, if anything, in most communities that's the only program we can get people out of public housing into home ownership. They have been taking advantage of that. Like I stated in my statement over the last week, we've put some 570 people into this program and we've put some $67 million into the Northwest Territories economy.

Return To Question 47-15(4): Administration Of The Homeownership Program (edap)
Question 47-15(4): Administration Of The Homeownership Program (edap)
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 85

Some Hon. Members

Hear! Hear!

Return To Question 47-15(4): Administration Of The Homeownership Program (edap)
Question 47-15(4): Administration Of The Homeownership Program (edap)
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

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David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

But I think more importantly the EDAP program was originally designed to help people move from public housing into home ownership who were paying the high end with regard to the rent scale. So I'd just like to note for the Member that the EDAP program, as it was originally laid out, was to assist small communities and individuals to move out of public housing into home ownership. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Return To Question 47-15(4): Administration Of The Homeownership Program (edap)
Question 47-15(4): Administration Of The Homeownership Program (edap)
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 85

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 47-15(4): Administration Of The Homeownership Program (edap)
Question 47-15(4): Administration Of The Homeownership Program (edap)
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 85

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you. Madam Speaker, the EDAP program seems to be getting a good response from the smaller communities. In terms of the home ownership programs, can the Minister inform this House if someone is rejected for whatever circumstances of their application if there is a process for the people to reapply? Is there an independent board that they can go to, or do they apply through the office of the Housing Corporation to seek another approval of the application? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 47-15(4): Administration Of The Homeownership Program (edap)
Question 47-15(4): Administration Of The Homeownership Program (edap)
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 85

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 47-15(4): Administration Of The Homeownership Program (edap)
Question 47-15(4): Administration Of The Homeownership Program (edap)
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 85

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, there is a process in which we encourage the applicants to reapply in regard to the following year because of change of circumstances. Like I stated last week, there are certain responsibilities in the application that the client must consider. They must be able to show that they're able to sustain a house in regards to the operation of the unit, but also more importantly they have to retain a mortgage through the bank for a portion of the payment for the unit.

The other problem that we have in a lot of small communities is land development. A lot of these clients in small communities are having problems trying to access land, and there are time limits with regard to the application, which is 90 days. In a lot of cases, communities do not have access to banks, don't have access to the lands to be developed in that time frame. So in most cases the applications are approved and then the following year a lot of this construction takes place. So because of that, a lot of clients are basically informed that because they have not completed or concluded the responsibilities laid out in the application, they are rejected and encouraged to apply next year, hopefully with a better chance of getting access to a bank or being able to obtain land to build on. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Further Return To Question 47-15(4): Administration Of The Homeownership Program (edap)
Question 47-15(4): Administration Of The Homeownership Program (edap)
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 85

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.