Mr. Speaker, I have a return to written question asked by Mr. Bob Bromley on October 29, 2009, regarding vacancy rates in public housing. Specifically, questions were asked about the vacancy of public housing units and whether they are heated or winterized.

The Northwest Territories Housing Corporation collects comprehensive information on public housing vacancies at the end of each calendar year. As of February 15, 2009, 146 public housing units were vacant in communities across the Northwest Territories. Of these units, 84 were vacant due to repairs, leaving 62 units available to be rented, or approximately 3 percent of the public housing stock. The number of vacant units fluctuates for a number of reasons and may include:

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no suitable households on a waiting list;

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units undergoing renovations; and

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units determined to be beyond economic repair and scheduled for replacement.

I will table a listing of vacancies as of February 15, 2009, at the appropriate time. Updated numbers for 2010 will be available before the end of this session.

Many vacant units remain heated; specifically, units within multi-unit configured buildings and where renovation work might require heat. Any vacant, single detached unit or a unit not undergoing renovations would be winterized and unheated.