WHEREAS “economic rent” for public housing in small and remote communities it unaffordable for most working tenants, due to local economic conditions;

AND WHEREAS the system used to determine economic rent is not fair to smaller communities where there are fewer public housing units;

AND WHEREAS the current system of adjusting the rental rates in public housing according to the fluctuating income of tenants is unnecessarily complex for both tenants and housing administration;

AND WHEREAS arrears in public housing are a perpetual problem for tenants and the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation;

AND WHEREAS this government needs to stimulate the depressed economies of small and remote communities;

AND WHEREAS practical rental options in public housing could enable more tenants to continue working instead of turning to income support;

AND WHEREAS a maximum rent program, as an option offered to tenants receiving private income, could help reduce many of these problems, while maintaining the public housing program for those who wish to be there;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, that this Legislative Assembly strongly recommends that the Minister responsible for the Northwest territories Housing Corporation establish an optional maximum rent scale for public housing in communities with no real private market, with rents set as follows:

1) $1,200 per month for four or five-bedroom

units;

2) $1,000 per month for three-bedroom units;

3) $800 per month for two-bedroom units; and

4) $600 per month for one-bedroom units.