Thank you, Madam Chair. The real answer on why we haven't expanded is cost. It's very expensive for us to operate and maintain a public housing unit. It typically ranges around $20,000 a year. We do need more. Our waiting list across the territories for public housing is over 950 right now. As I said before, our programming is different for major centres, as they have other housing options that might be available to people. Where we are really stuck is in what we call the rural and remote communities, the small communities where there are limited options, there are limited incomes. Right now, we are sitting with about 333 applicants there. We have heard situations where people have sat on that list for a very long time. It is those areas that the Minister has directed us to continue our efforts with Canada as a partnership to try to address that. We haven't really expanded our portfolio since the mid-1990s, so this is something we will have to keep working on. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Mr. Carpenter on Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
In the Legislative Assembly on March 11th, 2020. See this statement in context.
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 11th, 2020
Page 623
Carpenter
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