Mr. Speaker, I have a Return to Written Question 8-16(6) asked by Mr. Yakeleya on May 18, 2011, to the Honourable Robert C. McLeod, Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation, regarding health hazards in public housing units.

The health and safety of tenants in public housing is of primary importance to the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation (NWTHC), and concerns identified around mould and other health hazards in NWTHC units requires prompt action to ensure these types of issues are addressed on a timely basis.

NWTHC’s technical staff are trained to identify moulds and other health hazards, when conducting property inspections. The NWTHC, with its community partners, the local housing organizations (LHOs), schedule unit condition inspections on each of its public housing units annually. These inspections, which are completed by October 31

of each year, identify any health

and safety concerns, including mould and other potential health hazards. In addition, the condition of public housing units is also assessed when there is a change in tenancy and/or when a concern has been identified.

Once mould or any other health hazard has been identified, the extent of the matter is assessed and appropriate action is taken. The NWTHC follows nationally accepted procedures and guidelines established by the experts in the field, Health Canada, and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. These procedures outline how to deal with any given specific health issues, such as mould. The NWTHC also works with the Department of Health and Social Services as and when required when dealing with mould or other health hazards.

As a preventative measure, the NWTHC also carries out several activities to assist in both eliminating and reducing the risk of mould and similar health hazards, which include the following:

• The NWTHC has incorporated mould

information into its Housing Choices Solutions to Educate People (STEP) education modules, which includes a home maintenance/repair course. Instructors explain to homeowners the causes of mould and how it can be prevented, as well as how mould can be removed.

• In an effort to increase public awareness, the

NWTHC website www.NWTHC.gov.nt.ca has easily accessible information on strategies to prevent and clean up mould. Additionally, the NWTHC has circulated a mould information

brochure to the LHOs to provide to tenants and the general public. The NWTHC is currently updating the information, and it is anticipated that an updated brochure will be available to the general public by the end of 2011.

• The NWTHC’s standard drawings and

specifications, followed by detailed inspections by NWTHC technical staff during construction, also reduces the possibility of mould becoming an issue within the building assembly.

• The NWTHC also specifies in its construction

contracts mould-resistant products, such as moisture-resistant drywall, be used in bathrooms to help reduce the possibility of mould.