Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Like other Members are saying, the number one issue as an MLA and as I tour my communities and speak to residents, they are concerned about their housing needs and their ability to access programming. I think, indeed, I did mention earlier in the House that I believe the corporation staff is doing their job well. But I think the issue that is facing most of the constituents is not so much the staff as the guidelines and policies of the corporation that are excluding and making it difficult for people to access programming again. I know that many of my constituents have previously accessed programming and, I don’t know, it’s probably true in some cases that they’re not understanding the full implications of previous programs and now it limits their ability to access existing programs. That’s causing me concern because now a lot of people want to upgrade their houses. They want retrofits, they want renovations, and even the ability to enter the Homeownership Program as well. But because of their previous activity and their previous past, they’re actually denied access to previous programming. I think in some cases, probably because the staff know the file so well, they just tell people that they’re denied without even taking an application. In terms of due diligence and due process, I don’t think that should happen. I think that people should have the ability to fill out the application, at least. Some circumstances do change and there are life circumstances that change. In some cases there’s improved income. Maybe they’re dual household earners now. So just to be denied before we even open the door to them is not right. I don’t believe it’s the kind of service that our people expect from our Housing Corporation. At least they should take their application in and base their assessment on information that’s there. It’s just getting through the door that’s frustrating them to no end. I know, because we have changed our programming, that people have to apply annually.

Just in terms of guidelines and procedures, I still believe that we have to change the parameters of the community income threshold limit. There are lots of good couples out there and hardworking individuals who make enough money that can make these mortgage payments. I believe that those are the people we want. The ones who can afford to make the mortgage payments are the clients we want. I think we should really look at changing some parameters about eligibility for these people. They do want mortgages and so they need our assistance in that. In order to achieve our goal of more homeownership clients I believe that we should make this small change.

Another area of great importance is the ones in the lower limit and middle category have an affordability problem. I believe in the Minister’s opening remarks

he does mention a move towards social housing. I support that. And public housing. I believe we have to do more of that. One of my communities, Fort Liard, identified it. I’ve advised the Minister’s office that this is something that they want more of, because Fort Liard, like many communities, has four or five houses that ...Actually, we have three houses there that are unoccupied because clients are having difficulty finding clients for these homes. I don’t know if we have to convert these to social housing or public housing, but the key thing is that it frustrates the constituents to no end to see empty homes there when Fort Liard has huge overcrowding issues. There are two or three families to each home, in many cases. So there are 10 or 12 individuals in a two or three-bedroom house. It’s a huge issue. These people aren’t qualifying for our programs maybe because of previous programs or because of other guideline issues. If there was public housing, if there was social housing available, I believe they would certainly qualify. Many of them are low to no income and that’s what this type of house is certainly designed for. I’m certainly in support of it.

Some other communities, we have one guideline that if you have an existing house in the corporation and you want to upgrade or access another program, you cannot. I think we really should have a look at that policy, because what you’re doing is you’re helping one family perhaps move to a larger unit that’s more accommodating to their needs. They’ve got no problem making the mortgage payments. It’s not that they’re getting two houses. They’ve let me know and in many cases people say I’ll gladly return that to the Housing Corporation’s stock. With a little bit of renovation we can free that up for other individuals. It will probably be lower-cost housing. Probably a chance the mortgage won’t be that high. Or we can turn it into social or public housing stock. But the whole key here is that we’re taking the ability of moving a family to a larger, newer home that’s more accommodating to their larger, bigger families, to their needs. In some cases it’s being disabled too. Just another strategy that I think the corporation should look at, because it does free up another home. That’s what that does. In many cases there’s no one else eligible to access our housing programs for homeownership programs as well. So I believe that if we look at that and try to accommodate those special needs we can make better use of our dollars and we’ll get better return on our investment and just a better fit. These clients are a better fit for us.

There’s one thing that I’ve been quite passionate about over the years as an MLA and that is that we have to do this appeal system. I don’t see the Minister mentioning it in his opening remarks. Maybe he can comment on it if he’s got a moment. But that’s something I believe is necessary for our

Public Housing Program with the NWT Housing Corporation. I believe it will be beneficial not only to the Housing Corporation, but to the people, our clients, as well, and those applying. It gives them an avenue to appeal and I’ve always said that they’re often...Currently they’re often appealing to the people that denied them in the first place, which is front-line managers and maybe regional headquarters or district headquarters as well. That’s the only person they have to appeal to and they say, look, you forgot this information. But their minds are already made up. I believe an independent process is something that we need. Another way that they do appeal, too, is they appeal through their MLA or directly to the Minister’s office. That’s not really a fair way to treat our people. I believe that they do need an outlet in which to appeal; an independent process, knowing it will be treated with the diligence it deserves and the attention it deserves as opposed to I already said no and we’re going to stay at no. In some cases information really does get missed or lost or special circumstances are not taken into consideration, and that’s the value of an appeal system. I believe we should work towards it. Previous Ministers of Housing have indicated to me it would take place April 1st of this year, but I would

sure like to see something running in this new fiscal year.

With that, I’ll conclude my statements. Thank you for the opportunity to speak on that.