Thank you,
Mr.
Chairman. Even though there’s no specific
question, there are a lot of good points raised. In terms of funds going to Inuvik, out of the $41 million this year for all our programs, it’s $5.1 million. There are 20 units scheduled to be built this year as well in Inuvik to help meet some of their housing needs. The issue of having to take this step program before as opposed to after you get approved is one that we agree with as well. We’re going to look at revamping that so that once you’ve been identified as a successful candidate, you can take that. We do have arrangements right now where you can get basically block-funded with a non-repayable loan up to $90,000, depending on your income and where you fit on that priority, to be able to go to a bank to help you get a full mortgage.
As for seniors’ repairs, the issue has been raised, and we’re committed to looking at how we deliver that one. One of the things that has provided us with more clarity in our purpose and more direction has been the fact that we finally just released our strategic plan that we have been working on for the last six months or so. The Auditor General pointed out the need for a plan as well — not only a plan of where you want to go but laying out how you’re going to get there and how you’re going to be measured.
As for the issue of rental assessments, we’ll continue to work on that. As we move on boards and agencies to integrate health, housing and education, I think it’s going to bring those services together in a way that will allow it to be hopefully even more effective. We are committed to dealing with the arrears. We have been talking about that. That has been very well laid out for us by the Office of the Auditor General.
Another issue that is of interest that hasn’t been touched on yet: we are going to be moving to regionally debundle contracts so that there is an opportunity in regions for local businesses to be able to bid without having to bid for the whole territory. We are very concerned about the issue of mould, and we have some workshops being held north and south here in the territory with CMHC, who are recognized as the national leaders on the technical side of dealing with that particular issue.