Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Income exemption for newly employed public housing tenants.

WHEREAS the Government of the Northwest Territories recognizes that homeownership is more viable and sustainable than public housing for both families and the government;

AND WHEREAS the delivery of public housing is very costly;

AND WHEREAS the tenants in public housing find it difficult to remain working due to the high cost of rents that are charged when the tenants are employed;

AND WHEREAS the communities with a higher percentage of homeownership are more viable than communities with a high percentage of public housing;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, that the Government of the Northwest Territories and the NWT Housing Corporation take immediate action to incorporate changes to their programs and public housing rental policies that would allow for an income exemption for public housing tenants for a period six months from the start of the tenant’s employment;

AND FURTHER, that the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Housing Corporation undertake immediate efforts to work with these public housing tenants to encourage and empower these tenants to pursue the longer-term benefits gained through homeownership.