Masi. Minister of NWT Power Corporation

Yes, Mr. Speaker. The corporation is always looking at new projects and ways of becoming more efficient. There is, of course, a new board in place and I believe they've had some preliminary discussions, but their first meeting I think is only next week. So they will be tasked with, as I mentioned earlier, looking at the whole of the corporation; looking at ways that can become more efficient and more productive.

We also, however, will still be looking at new technologies to enhance the technologies we already have but always keeping in mind that we must attempt to supply power at a reasonable price to our constituents, the people of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

In reducing costs and looking at creating more revenues that's ongoing, is there an internal briefing that could be supplied to the other side for such things as layoffs possibly, reduction of hours, those types of measures to reducing corporate cost?

Mr. Speaker, the corporation is always looking at reducing costs; clearly that's very important, particularly as I mentioned the other day that the amount of sales in the sense of the amount of power being sold seems to be constant or actually in decline. So to avoid further large increases in rates we must look, and they must look, for efforts to reduce any costs they do have.

Clearly, the new board will be tasked with that responsibility but I think senior management is well aware of that responsibility also and has taken efforts to reduce costs as much as possible.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can we request if there's any reduction plans on reducing internal operating O and M costs? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I'm not sure I heard the question completely. I can advise that the corporation and its board will be tasked with attempting to reduce costs. I don't actually have a plan nor do they have a plan in mind, but that is simply part of the normal corporate responsibility of keeping costs in line, particularly as I say when we are in a situation where you're not increasing sales. There are ongoing efforts all the time to reduce costs. I'm not aware of a specific plan to reduce costs, but clearly that's a corporate and board of directors’ responsibility.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Sahtu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If there is one to be developed here in the near future or upcoming future, could that plan of reduction or reducing expenses be provided to our side there? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As I mentioned, Mr. Speaker, there is no specific plan at this time to reduce costs; there's always attempts to reduce costs. However, I will have discussions with the board and be giving direction to them in several areas, so certainly that is an area that I could bring back to this House if there is a specific request made by me through consultations with the people in this room, the Cabinet and so on. I don't think there's any specific planned reductions at this time apart from the normal ongoing corporate responsibility of keeping costs in line.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Mackenzie Delta.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a few questions for the Minister of the Housing Corporation. Mr. Speaker, earlier today we had a briefing and the needs in the Beaufort Delta will triple over the next ten years, Mr. Speaker. So I'd like to ask: will the Minister work with the Minister of Health and Social Services to identify the needs to each community in the Beaufort Delta so we can begin planning? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Minister of NWT Housing Corporation.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members may be aware that the Housing Corporation is actually already on that. We are putting out a survey that will develop a community-based plan and we're more than willing to work with the Health and Social Services Department in providing services. So when those surveys are received back we will know exactly what each community wishes and we would base our actions for the coming future based on the community needs. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, as many of my colleagues have mentioned that aging in place is something that everyone in our communities would like to see. You know, our elders do not want to leave the communities they lived in all their lives, but yet we have some elders that are being asked to contribute up to 25 per cent of the actual costs of renovations to their home, for example. So will the Minister look at ways to either eliminate this or put it to five per cent? You know it's very difficult for elders to save money with the high cost of living that we have in our small communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Currently in the Northwest Territories we have 356 units that are actually suitable for seniors, designed specifically and have the modifications. This current coming fiscal year we're looking at adding another 63 with the modifications designed specifically for seniors, so that will bring us up to 459 units in the Northwest Territories that have the seniors' capacity. So we are really actively working towards providing services for seniors so that they can age in place. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's good to know what the department has, but I'm talking about the homeowners, Mr. Speaker. Many of my elders that have their own homes, when they need renovations they're either asked to contribute up to 25 per cent, you know, there's challenges. I know we have the GSOs in the communities to help them, and also other areas to help the elders, but it's a real challenge for an elder to come up with, whether it's $10,000, $20,000, Mr. Speaker. That's what I'm talking about here. We need to look at this policy and possibly revise it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I do apologize if I didn't answer the complete question that the Member asked me. Currently, there are programs within the Northwest Territories that do have a user co-pay component with that. The corporation would love to be able to provide programs that have no cost; however, in all honesty, we have a small population within the Northwest Territories and currently we're spending seven times the national average rate. Most provinces are spending one per cent of their revenues on housing; we're spending seven per cent of our revenues currently on housing. So we really need to be cautious about how far we go with that. Even though we're spending seven per cent of our revenues, we've never been able to meet the national core need average.

So in effect, if we're going try to get closer to the core need we need to really be careful on what extra programs we're putting out there and how we spend our monies because we can't go much further than seven per cent more-- seven times more than the national average. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, you know, it always seems to be cost is always an issue when it comes to whether it's providing services for elders or people in the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, we need to make sure our elders are cared for. You know, cost is no issue. With all the funding we do get here in the Northwest Territories we have to ensure that we are taking care of our elders in our communities, that's the bottom line, Mr. Speaker, and we need to make sure that our policies make sure that that happens. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. I didn't really hear a question there, more of a comment, however, I'll allow the Minister if she wishes to answer.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I accept that as a comment.

Masi. Oral questions. Item 8, written questions. Item 9, returns to written questions. Item 10, replies to Commissioner's opening address. Item 11, petitions. Item 12, reports of standing and special committees. Item 13, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 14, tabling of documents. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following two documents entitled "Creating Safe Communities for Older Adults: a Five Year Strategy for the Northwest Territories 2015 to 2020" and "The NWT On-the-Land Collaborative Fund Pilot Report." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Tabling of documents. Minister of Justice.