This is page numbers 209 - 240 of the Hansard for the 15th 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 going.

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Supplementary To Question 74-15(5): Health And Social Services Review In Deninu Kue
Question 74-15(5): Health And Social Services Review In Deninu Kue
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 221

Robert Villeneuve

Robert Villeneuve Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess back in October during the session the Minister said that he would commit to the Member that this review would be done in the first week of January. I'm hoping that it probably was done in January sometime, and that was four months ago. The community consultation; is there any specific dates that the Minister can tell me and my constituents when they're going to be in the communities to do this consultation, because it's already four months past when the review was supposed to be completed. When do we start the consultation process, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 74-15(5): Health And Social Services Review In Deninu Kue
Question 74-15(5): Health And Social Services Review In Deninu Kue
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 221

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 74-15(5): Health And Social Services Review In Deninu Kue
Question 74-15(5): Health And Social Services Review In Deninu Kue
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 221

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that consultation has been underway. They have been meeting with various groups, individuals and organizations in the community. The one group that they were having some difficulty getting it all together was the actual community leadership comprised of the chief and the mayor and the Metis president. But they have been working on this and we're going to finalize the report, but they were going over the recommendations as well as the content of all the interviews and work that was done. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 74-15(5): Health And Social Services Review In Deninu Kue
Question 74-15(5): Health And Social Services Review In Deninu Kue
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 221

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 74-15(5): Health And Social Services Review In Deninu Kue
Question 74-15(5): Health And Social Services Review In Deninu Kue
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 221

Robert Villeneuve

Robert Villeneuve Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The most important people you want to consult with in these communities seem to be the ones they haven't touched base with yet. I'm sure that the Minister has probably met with the Yellowknife Health Authority and gone over some of the recommendations of the review. Maybe just for the public record and for my constituents' peace of mind, what were the views of the Yellowknife Health Authority so far as the overall recommendations that the review recommended? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 74-15(5): Health And Social Services Review In Deninu Kue
Question 74-15(5): Health And Social Services Review In Deninu Kue
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 222

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 74-15(5): Health And Social Services Review In Deninu Kue
Question 74-15(5): Health And Social Services Review In Deninu Kue
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 222

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I haven't seen the final draft. I know that the work's been done, as I've outlined. But I haven't seen the final draft and I am waiting for that to come across my desk. There has been extensive efforts made to connect up with the leadership and I do believe that if they didn't do it as a group, they've managed to meet with them individually. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 74-15(5): Health And Social Services Review In Deninu Kue
Question 74-15(5): Health And Social Services Review In Deninu Kue
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 222

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Your final supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 74-15(5): Health And Social Services Review In Deninu Kue
Question 74-15(5): Health And Social Services Review In Deninu Kue
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 222

Robert Villeneuve

Robert Villeneuve Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister is in the same boat as I am. It's a review that was done four months ago; he hasn't seen it and neither have I. The leaders haven't been consulted; it hasn't been shared with the community yet. Can I just get some kind of a commitment, a statement from the Minister from his department to say that, yes, we are going to move forward on this and we are actually going to go in the community sometime hopefully soon and bring in a public document in the community and hear everybody's concerns on what some of those recommendations could be? Could we get some kind of a timeline when that's going to be completed? It's already four months overdue, Mr. Speaker. You know, how long does it take to travel to Res? It's only half an hour away, you know, by plane. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 74-15(5): Health And Social Services Review In Deninu Kue
Question 74-15(5): Health And Social Services Review In Deninu Kue
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 222

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 74-15(5): Health And Social Services Review In Deninu Kue
Question 74-15(5): Health And Social Services Review In Deninu Kue
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 222

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there has been extensive community consultation and I indicated to the deputy minister and the folks involved to keep contacting the community leadership and if we can't get hold of them, track all the efforts we've made to in fact get hold of them. So I will check with the department, but I will commit to the Member that I will have a copy of that report for him and for myself so we can go over it together before the end of this week. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 74-15(5): Health And Social Services Review In Deninu Kue
Question 74-15(5): Health And Social Services Review In Deninu Kue
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Oral questions. The honourable Member from Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Question 75-15(5): Seniors' Housing Project In Hay River
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 222

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement I said I was going to ask about the transportation contract for the construction of winter roads, but in fact the Minister had already given us a pretty good commitment in a meeting this morning so I'm not pursuing that. So I'm going to go to Mr. Krutko instead, the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation.

Mr. Speaker, there has been a project in the works in Hay River for many months related to seniors' housing. It has been called the Whispering Willows Seniors Complex, and as of late we haven't heard much of a formal or public update as to what is the status of that project. So I'll ask Mr. Krutko if he could please let us know what is happening with Whispering Willows. Thank you.

Question 75-15(5): Seniors' Housing Project In Hay River
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 222

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Honourable Minister responsible for Housing Corporation, Mr. Krutko.

Return To Question 75-15(5): Seniors' Housing Project In Hay River
Question 75-15(5): Seniors' Housing Project In Hay River
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 222

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have been in discussions with the Hay River Seniors' Society and also with CMHC who is also providing funding to this program. We are in the process of putting out a request for proposals for construction of units in Hay River, working in conjunction with the Seniors' Society, CMHC and ourselves. So we're presently in the process of preparing a request for proposal on that project.

Return To Question 75-15(5): Seniors' Housing Project In Hay River
Question 75-15(5): Seniors' Housing Project In Hay River
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 222

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 75-15(5): Seniors' Housing Project In Hay River
Question 75-15(5): Seniors' Housing Project In Hay River
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 222

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have two questions, then, as a result of that. No, I have three questions actually. How many units is this complex going to consist of, are they for seniors, and is the NWT Housing Corporation supplying the land on which these units are going to be built from this RFP? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 75-15(5): Seniors' Housing Project In Hay River
Question 75-15(5): Seniors' Housing Project In Hay River
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Three questions there. The Minister can answer one or all three. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 75-15(5): Seniors' Housing Project In Hay River
Question 75-15(5): Seniors' Housing Project In Hay River
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 222

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Mr. Speaker, I'll answer the last one first and go forward. The land that this project is sitting on is land that is owned by the Housing Corporation. We are contributing to this project. In regards to the numbers of units, again we are working along with the Seniors' Society in which they are also going to be putting money into this project, and also working with the community of Hay River to try to get some money through the capacity funding. But also through CMHC again, they are also involved. So at this time, we are working in conjunction with the three agencies to be able to deliver this program. But also to have a fair and open process, we are going to be putting out the request for proposals and sit down with the Seniors' Society in Hay River, along with CMHC and myself, to ensure that we are being fair and open and transparent and also meet the goals of the seniors for Hay River. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 75-15(5): Seniors' Housing Project In Hay River
Question 75-15(5): Seniors' Housing Project In Hay River
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 222

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 75-15(5): Seniors' Housing Project In Hay River
Question 75-15(5): Seniors' Housing Project In Hay River
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 223

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So the Minister didn't tell me how many units were going to be built, he didn't tell me who the units are going to be for, so I'd like to ask the Minister again -- I hope this doesn't count as a question -- who are the units being built for and isn't the NWT Housing Corporation, in fact, going to buy these units? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 75-15(5): Seniors' Housing Project In Hay River
Question 75-15(5): Seniors' Housing Project In Hay River
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 223

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 75-15(5): Seniors' Housing Project In Hay River
Question 75-15(5): Seniors' Housing Project In Hay River
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 223

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Mr. Speaker, these units are for seniors in Hay River who basically have low incomes. This is going to be similar to public housing that we provide the seniors at the present time. I know there were concerns in regard to condos and whatnot that were in the mix. That is no longer part of this scenario, so we are only focussing on low income seniors to provide social housing for seniors in Hay River. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 75-15(5): Seniors' Housing Project In Hay River
Question 75-15(5): Seniors' Housing Project In Hay River
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 223

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Your final supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 75-15(5): Seniors' Housing Project In Hay River
Question 75-15(5): Seniors' Housing Project In Hay River
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 223

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to know if the Minister, at some point, could provide us with some kind of documentation that shows this project in a capital plan anywhere. The other thing, Mr. Speaker, if the Housing Corporation's going to own them, they're low income units for seniors, have they done a market study to identify if there is a demand for them or not? Because I'll tell you something, Mr. Speaker, everyone knows, as my colleague referred to today, that most of the people who moved into the duplexes, whether they were low income or not low income or whatever they were, sold their homes to move in there. So that would kind of speak to you about the demand. I hope that the Minister plans to do some kind of a market survey or something to determine if there's a demand for these units for social housing for seniors.

The other question, and my final question, Mr. Speaker, is, is the Town of Hay River going to allow the Housing Corporation to build social housing on the lot that they have on the riverbank in Hay River downtown? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.