Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to written question asked by Mr. Alfred Moses on May 24, 2012, regarding the shelter policy review – proposed seniors rent scale.
1. Would the Minister please provide a list of the
communities that were consulted in the shelter policy review?
The engagement process during the shelter policy review was quite extensive and included a number of approaches. One component of the engagement was workshops with community and Aboriginal government representatives.
In Inuvik on June 2-3, 2011, we met with representatives from Aklavik, Fort McPherson, Deline, Ulukhaktok, Fort Good Hope, Inuvik, Sachs Harbour, Gwich’in Tribal Council, Paulatuk, Nihtat Gwich’in Tribal Council, Tuktoyaktuk, Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, Tulita and Inuvik Community Corporation.
In Hay River on June 13-14, 2011, we met with representatives from Fort Providence, Hay River, Fort Resolution Metis Council, NWT Metis Nation, Fort Resolution, Fort Smith, Hay River Reserve, Lidlii Kue First Nation, Fort Simpson, Fort Simpson Metis, Nahanni Butte, West Point First Nation, Wrigley and Salt River First Nation.
In Yellowknife on September 1, 2011, we met with representatives from Tlicho Government, Wekweeti, Behchoko, Gameti and Whati.
Key interviews were held with the mayor of Yellowknife and the chiefs of Detah and Ndilo, who were unable to attend the other scheduled workshops. In addition, a workshop was held with non-government organizations including both community and territorial organizations on June 28, 2011. Workshops were also held with local housing organization manager and board chairs, with four separate workshops including representatives of 21 communities.
2. Would the Minister please indicate which
community groups were consulted during the review?
Community leadership were provided materials on the shelter policy review and identified participants for the workshops. In addition to the community workshops, a workshop was held with non-government organizations that have a role in housing. A variety of advocacy groups, including the NWT Seniors’ Society, and groups that operate shelters participated in this workshop.
Input was also sought from a variety of other stakeholder groups during the shelter policy review including membership of the NWTTA.
3. Would the Minister please confirm the number
of NWT seniors who were consulted during the review?
As noted, there was a variety of engagement approaches used during the shelter policy review. We did not collect the age of participants in each of these activities, so cannot provide the number of seniors that may have participated in the review.
4. Would the Minister please provide an outline of
the consultation process for the shelter policy review?
A variety of approaches were used during the shelter policy review to get input from stakeholders on housing issues in the Northwest Territories. These included the following:
• There were workshops held with community
representatives and leadership where all communities were invited.
• Workshops were also held with local housing
organization (LHO) board chairs and LHO managers.
• A workshop was held with representatives of
non-government organizations including shelter providers, low-cost housing providers, NWT Seniors’ Society and the NWT Council for the Disabled.
• There were targeted housing client meetings.
These built on the engagement with clients on poverty that included discussions on housing.
• There was an on-line questionnaire that was
available to all residents that gathered information on issues along the housing continuum. A statistical survey was also completed with more than 700 territorial residents that included questions on housing issues.
• Key interviews were done with other
stakeholders including Regular Members of the Legislative Assembly, deputy ministers within the GNWT, the NWT Construction Association, the NWT Chamber of Commerce and CMHC.
• Input was also provided by the Executive
Council and standing committees of the Legislative Assembly.