Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of this motion. This is the second time that I have stood in this House in support of a motion to return the administration of the public housing subsidy back to the NWT Housing Corporation. It is also the third time that many Members who were here during the 15th Assembly
have stood asking Cabinet to realize that the current program is not working and return it to its rightful home, the NWT Housing Corporation.
Mr. Speaker, there is nothing wrong in admitting that a mistake was made. With this motion, we are hoping that Cabinet would see reason, recognize the mistake and transfer the responsibility back to the NWT Housing Corporation, and the $30 million that came along with it. Allow the local housing authorities to do the job that they have done for years and years, something that they have done really well.
Mr. Speaker, the old system was an easier process for the tenants. We all have to listen to what our constituents are telling us. I have heard people express frustration with how the program works within Education, Culture and Employment. Tenants are having to wait three weeks to have their assessments done. Many people that were never in arrears before are in arrears because of the lateness of the assessments getting back to the LHOs. LHOs have had a reputation of treating tenants professionally and respectfully. The NWT
Housing Corporation’s partnership with the LHOs did a good job in administering the public housing. The system was not broken. It did not need fixing. Now, with the new system and the new model of administration through income support at ECE, the Public Housing Program is broken in the NWT, broken and in need of repair.
So I encourage Cabinet to acknowledge and act on this motion in the best interest of all people of the Northwest Territories. Return the responsibility of the public housing subsidy back to the NWT Housing Corporation, and the $30 million that came along with it.
As I said earlier, there is nothing wrong with admitting a mistake was made and correcting it. I believe the Housing Corporation is ready and able to take this back on if we just give them the authority to do so.
Mr. Speaker, I support this motion. Thank you.