Debates of March 7th, 2018

This is page numbers 3681 – 3720 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
Prayer
Improving Supports For Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder And Autism
Indigenous Languages In Schools And Communities
Northwest Territories Asset Management Strategy
Federal Infrastructure Funding
Partnerships On Suicide Prevention
Recognition Of Ruby Jumbo, Recipient Of Senior Administrative Officer Of The Year 2017 Award By The Local Government Association Of The Northwest Territories
Homelessness In The Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories Power Corporation Challenges
Fraser Institute Annual Survey Of Mining Companies 2017
Personal Information Disclosure For Public Housing Tenants
Rental Office Application Processing Time
Post-Secondary Education In The Northwest Territories
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Child And Youth Mental Wellness Action Plan
Improving Rental Office Performance
Mining Investment Climate
Addressing Homelessness In The Northwest Territories
Costs Related To Delay In Delivery Of Generators
Stroke Management Services And Support
Disclosure Of Income Information To Northwest Territories Housing Corporation
Aurora College Foundational Review And Post-Secondary Education
Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Applications To The Rental Office
Tabled Document 111-18(3): Letter To Minister Bennett From Gary Vivian, President NWT & Nunavut Chamber Of Mines Regarding Northern Minerals Industry Submission On The Arctic Policy Framework, Dated February 28, 2018
Tabled Document 112-18(3): Follow-Up Letter For Oral Question 119-18(3): Medical Travel Coverage
Tabled Document 113-18(3): Follow-Up Letter For Oral Question 139-18(3): Waste Water Resource Management Strategy
Tabled Document 116-18(3): Follow-Up Letter For Oral Question 186-18(3): Perimeter Fence Repair At The North Slave Correctional Complex
Tabled Document 117-18(3): Fraser Institute Annual Survey Of Mining Companies 2017
Tabled Document 118-18(3): Joint Letter From Downstream Indigenous Communities Regarding The Site C Dam
Tabled Document 120-18(3): Site C Project Not In Keeping With Aboriginal Treaty Rights Or Un Declaration: Bellegarde', Vancouver Sun, September 11, 2016
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Report of Committee of the Whole
Orders of the Day

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, I think I am going on to my third business plan, and again I am going to wish to talk about the apprenticeships and how the department has expanded or developed better apprenticeships and, more, increased it. Can the Minister tell us if the department or corporation has developed more apprenticeships for the local housing authorities? Thank you.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Mr. Williams.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Williams

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Certainly, the area of building capacity in our tradespeople across the Northwest Territories is important for us. We have increased the allocation for apprentices. I think we will be allocating up to 15 apprenticeships across the territories. It's certainly something that there is a need for. I know it's a small number, but, working with the LHOs, we support 15 LHOs on apprenticeships, and it used to be 12, so we have increased it by three this year, and we will continue to increase. There is also a program with CMHC that LHOs could subscribe to, that they could get funding to support youth training. It's a youth program run by CMHC, and it has been very successful in Nunavut and also in some of our Beaufort communities. Paulatuk, for example, has accessed this funding in the past. So, working with our federal partners, we are able to train a lot of people. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Mr. Thompson.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Don't get me wrong. I think going from 12 to 15 is huge. It does not sound like it, but it is, and I honestly think this is a very good step as we move forward. So, I guess in regards to this youth training and this opportunity to tap into federal funding, does the corporation work with the LHOs to get this information out there and access it? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Mr. Williams.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Williams

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, we certainly make sure that the LHOs are aware of this program. We have our annual LHO managers conference, and we have invited CMHC to speak to the program and provide information. I think to date we have three applications in with CMHC to access funding. So, it's certainly an area that we want to promote along with CMHC because we both believe in building trade capacity. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Mr. Thompson.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank Mr. Williams for that answer. I guess it's great that we are getting the housing managers and informing them, but is this information getting to the boards, as well? How is it getting shared to the boards? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Minister.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, as stated, we do have the annual meetings, and the boards are well aware of it, of the programs. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I should state that we are working really diligently with all of the chairs in the local housing organizations because of the number of program and policy changes that we are implementing, so communicating with them on a regular basis is critical to make sure that this program renewal is effective. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Mr. Thompson.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I appreciate the answer from Mr. Williams and the Minister. Can this information be shared with ordinary MLAs so that we then can also be advocates to our boards to look at tapping into this program? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Minister.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would really appreciate if the MLAs from the different regions would be able to help to get that information out. It is available on the website for the CMHC, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, so, if you can access it there, that has the best description of the program and more than welcome to help to dissimilate that information. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Mr. Thompson.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair. What the Minister is saying is that I have to go to CMHC and find this information and then share it because the department can't do that? Can they explain? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I can commit to submitting the link for that tomorrow. If there is any difficulty for the Regular MLAs to be able to access it, we will provide the link tomorrow. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Thompson.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

I appreciate the Minister doing that. Now, going on to local housing authorities here, in particular, the new one in Fort Liard, when will we start seeing staff besides the manager there being implemented? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Mr. Martin.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Martin

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, the Housing Corporation continues to work closely with the manager. It does have full intention of staffing up as soon as possible. That work continues. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Mr. Thompson.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Can we get a definition of what "as soon as possible" means? I mean, is it going to be within the next month? Is it going to be six months? I know the corporation has brought this LHO in last year, and I greatly appreciate it. I am looking to see potential employment for local people. Thank you, Mr. Chair.