Debates of Nov. 1st, 2018
This is page numbers 4677 - 4704 of the Hansard for the 18th Assembly, 3rd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was housing.
Topics
- Oral Questions
- Members Present
- Prayer
- Minister's Statement 127-18(3): Anti-Poverty Update
- Minister's Statement 128-18(3): Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Community Housing Plans
- Minister's Statement 129-18(3): Energy Initiatives Update
- Minister's Statement 130-18(3): Municipal Government Elections
- Air Tindi 30th Anniversary
- Infrastructure Projects in the Sahtu
- Remembrance Day
- Carbon Tax Impacts on Traditional Economies
- Kole Crook Fiddle Association
- Trapping Season in the Beaufort Delta
- Carbon Pricing
- Hay River Town Council Elects
- Passing of Agnes Sutherland
- Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
- Question 486-18(3): Carbon Tax Impacts on Traditional Economies
- Question 487-18(3): Home Ownership Programs
- Question 488-18(3): Prime Fur Bonus Program
- Question 489-18(3): Reduction of Non-Renewable Energy
- Question 490-18(3): Home Ownership Program in Fort Simpson
- Question 491-18(3): Fur Harvesting Programs
- Question 492-18(3): Availability of Family Planning Tools
- Question 493-18(3): New Government Building Name
- Question 494-18(3): Sole-Source Contracting for Fuel Resupply
- Question 495-18(3): Flexibility for Large Tenders/Northern Bids for Contracts
- Question 496-18(3): New Government Building
- Tabled Document 286-18(3): Grants and Contributions Results Report 2017-2018 Tabled Document 287-18(3): Energy Initiatives Report 2017-2018
- Tabled Document 288-18(3): Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Annual Report 2017-2018
- Tabled Document 289-18(3): Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority 2017-2018 Annual Report Tabled Document 290-18(3): Annual Report 2017-2018 NWT Health and Social Services System Tabled Document 291-18(3): Tlicho Community Services Agency Health and Social Services Annual Report 2017-2018 Tabled Document 292-18(3): Annual Report 2017-2018 Hay River Health and Social Services Authority
- Tabled Document 293-18(3): Inter-Activity Transfers Exceeding $250,000 (April 1 to June 30, 2018) Tabled Document 294-18(3): Public Accounts 2017-2018, Sections I, II, III and IV
- Tabled Document 295-18(3): Annual Reports for Northwest Territories Education Bodies for the 2017-2018 School Year Ending June 30, 2018 Tabled Document 296-18(3): Operating Plans for Northwest Territories Education Bodies for the 2018-2019 School Year Ending June 30, 2019
- Tabled Document 297-18(3): Annual Report on the Activities of the Rental Officer April 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018
- Tabled Document 298-18(3): Correspondence from Native Women's Association to Health and Social Services Minister Abernethy, Received Oct. 31, 2018 regarding Auditor General of Canada 2018 Report on Child and Family Service Delivery Tabled Document 299-18(3): Correspondence from Deninu Kue First Nation to Health and Social Services Minister Abernethy on Reopening 'Our Great Elders Facility' in Fort Resolution, Dated October 12, 2018
- Motion 25-18(3): Appointment of Chair to the Northwest Territories Honours Advisory Council, Carried
- Motion 26-18(3): Appointment to the Special Committee on Transition Matters, Carried
- Motion 27-18(3): Appointment to the Human Rights Adjudication Panel, Carried
- Motion 28-18(3): Establishment of a Special Committee to Increase the Representation of Women in the Legislative Assembly, Carried
- Motion 29-18(3): Appointment of Human Rights Commission Members Carried
- Motion 30-18(3): Extended Adjournment of the House to February 5, 2019, Carried
- Bill 31: Northwest Territories 911 Act
- Bill 32: Naturopathic Profession Statutes Amendment Act
- Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
- Report Of Committee Of The Whole
- Bill 20: Ombud Act
- Recorded Vote
- Assent To Bills
- Orders Of The Day
Question 487-18(3): Home Ownership Programs
Oral Questions
Page 4687
Question 487-18(3): Home Ownership Programs
Oral Questions
Page 4687

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, it would be inappropriate for me to discuss any specific application and information on our residents here, but if there is no program demand for a particular unit and it does remain vacant, the NWT Housing Corporation can re-profile a HELP unit into a market unit or vice versa. You can't turn a market unit into a HELP unit, but it would be inappropriate for me to discuss any specifics on any kind of application information. Like I said, if there is no program demand, then, we are able to re-profile those units. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 487-18(3): Home Ownership Programs
Oral Questions
Page 4687

Shane Thompson Nahendeh
I wasn't asking about applicants. I am just saying that I know that there were four applicants, four HELP units. Again, what was the rationale to reduce that one, take one of those HELP units to a market unit, because there are two applicants looking for these types of units?
Question 487-18(3): Home Ownership Programs
Oral Questions
Page 4687

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake
As I mentioned earlier, units are not profiled to another program unless it is confirmed that there is no demand for the unit under the original program, and that was the case.
Question 487-18(3): Home Ownership Programs
Oral Questions
Page 4687

Shane Thompson Nahendeh
If there are four applicants, there are four HELP units, I would assume there was a need. Unfortunately, I guess the corporation has a different matrix of deciding what needs are. It is my understanding that the Housing Corporation is bringing in two more units during the winter months. Are these units going to be HELP units or market rent units?
Question 487-18(3): Home Ownership Programs
Oral Questions
Page 4687

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake
The Member is correct. We are bringing two market rental duplexes, which equates to four units. These should be ready for occupancy hopefully by March of 2019.
Question 487-18(3): Home Ownership Programs
Oral Questions
Page 4687
Question 487-18(3): Home Ownership Programs
Oral Questions
Page 4687

Shane Thompson Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That's great news, and I thank the Minister for providing that here today. With these new units coming into place, will that unit they changed from HELP to market be turned back to a HELP unit so residents can have that opportunity to get into this program? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 487-18(3): Home Ownership Programs
Oral Questions
Page 4687

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake
The introduction of more HELP units into any community across the Northwest Territories is only considered if there is a demand for the program. Obviously NWT Housing Corporation would like to work with residents to get into home ownership or work with them to get into housing units, but the same is for market units, you know. We have nurses, we have teachers out there who need units to stay in, and we need to find balance. The introduction of any HELP units across the NWT would be considered if there was a demand for the program. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 487-18(3): Home Ownership Programs
Oral Questions
Page 4687
Question 488-18(3): Prime Fur Bonus Program
Oral Questions
November 1st, 2018
Page 4687

Kieron Testart Kam Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one of my constituents is a trapper who benefits from the ENR's Prime Fur Bonus program, and over the last season he had substantial delays in receiving his payment, thousands of dollars held up for inexplicable reasons. I brought this concern to the Minister of ENR and it has since been resolved, but I am wondering if he can speak publicly to the issue which is affecting the prompt payment of trappers who rely on this extra income. Thank you.
Question 488-18(3): Prime Fur Bonus Program
Oral Questions
Page 4687
Question 488-18(3): Prime Fur Bonus Program
Oral Questions
Page 4688

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would be happy to stand here and promote one of the best programs that the government offers across the Northwest Territories. As the Member from the Mackenzie Delta said, it is November 1st today, trapping season, and a lot of people are able to access many of the programs through the Grubstake Program and prepare themselves from an upcoming trapping season. They get further benefits when they bring their fur in. They do get an advance on fur that they bring. They send the fur out to the markets, and then depending on how quickly the sale is is how quickly we can get the money back to them. I was glad we were able to resolve the Member's constituent's issue. It is a very successful program, and I am going on a little too long, so I am going to stop there, Mr. Speaker.
Question 488-18(3): Prime Fur Bonus Program
Oral Questions
Page 4688

Kieron Testart Kam Lake
I agree with the Minister. It's a great program, but it's really important that we pay our trappers on time, and I know that with my constituent in particular there was a new financial system that was put in place that was the subject of these delays, and I know at the time that I inquired with this they were still, the department was still, working out the kinks. I don't want a Phoenix pay system in the NWT sort of problem, and I do not think any of our trappers do, either, so can the Minister assure this House that this new financial system is working as intended and after this season there will be no more delays in payments?
Question 488-18(3): Prime Fur Bonus Program
Oral Questions
Page 4688

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes
Mr. Speaker, the fur harvest management system might be the one the Member is referring to. We are getting the kinks out of that. Again I would have to investigate a little further, but I do know that sometimes the delay in getting the money back to the trappers is from the actual fur sale itself. I think in this particular case the way that it was going through the system might have been part of the reason for the delay, and I can assure the Member and all trappers out there, and I know a lot of them personally, that this will not be happening again.
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