Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to talk about an aspect of the Public Housing Rental Program that I am concerned about. Like the other Members, I, too, want to see an efficient administration of subsidy programs that provide cost-effective services to clients who need support for their housing costs. We all know that housing costs can be very expensive in the NWT. We understand the importance of this program for our residents, whether they live in small communities or large communities in the Northwest Territories. The area that I am concerned about is public housing when it is supplied by private sector landlords. I know that in Yellowknife and some of the larger communities it makes good sense to provide a rental subsidy to clients who are living in privately owned and operated housing. This increases the housing options available to our residents.
We all know residents who need some assistance with housing costs only. On other fronts, they are managing well, have a job and are meeting their household expenses. Clients like these and the government could be well served with leases with private sector landlords.
However, I’m concerned about the Housing Corporation’s program which acquired housing through leases with the private sector landlords; agreements that guarantee rent to these landlords and pay the landlords to provide maintenance costs for the units, something that other landlords would cover through rent collection. My understanding is that the rental rates are at a premium. The additional maintenance costs or services are definitely at a premium. These are long-term leases, Mr. Speaker. It is another premium to the landlords or a significant benefit to the landlords at the GNWT’s expense. I think these kinds of services are not a cost-effective way to provide a
public housing subsidy. They are not the best use of the limited financial resources that we have as a government.
Mr. Speaker, later today I will be asking the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation questions about this type of public housing rent and subsidy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.