Thank you, Madam Chair. For a contractor to be suspended by the Housing Corporation is really a last resort. We make every effort to work with them to take corrective action on whichever contract they are involved in. However, if it comes to a serious point where it's impacting our clients, whether it's safety issues or heating issues or something like that, we will follow the steps and verbal warnings to written warnings and then place them on a suspension for a certain time period. We always encourage and work with those contractors on the way they could get back the ability to do our work by demonstrating. We will probably give them some small contracts after their suspension period. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Debates of March 11th, 2020
This is page numbers 607 - 658 of the Hansard for the 19th Assembly, 2nd 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
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 619
Carpenter
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 619
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 619
Rocky Simpson Hay River South
Thank you, Madam Chair. I am curious to know with respect to that: you are in a small community. You've got limited number of people there, looking after the projects with limited experience. To get on that list, I am wondering: if it is an issue with heating, do you have a heating specialist there? If it is to do with electricity, does the same guy who has the heating expertise decide whether it is electrical or whether it is carpentry or whatever? I am just trying to figure out who actually makes that call when it comes to the actual suspension. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 619
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 619
Paulie Chinna Sahtu
Thank you, Madam Chair. I understand the question that we do have people working in the isolated communities and the determination of the quality of work that is being presented. We do have technical advisors at the district level who do follow up with the contracts. We do educate and support them through the lifetime of the contract. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 619
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 619
Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes
Thank you, Madam Chair. One of the questions, I know that it was brought up under the minor modernization and improvement because it jumped, the large infrastructure. Can the Minister confirm where that large infrastructure is?
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 619
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 619
Paulie Chinna Sahtu
Thank you, Madam Chair. I will just have the vice-president for finance and infrastructure services to respond. Thank you.
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 619
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 619
Martin
Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes. The large building that we have on the radar at this time for demolition next year is the Inuvik Sydney Apartments. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 619
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 619
Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes
Thank you, Madam Chair. Knowing what we know, that we have a shortage of single units and possibly a lot of people who could afford single units at a market rent, was there ever an opportunity to put this building up for sale first, before demolition? Thank you.
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 620
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 620
Paulie Chinna Sahtu
Thank you, Madam Chair. I am familiar with the Sydney Apartments that you are speaking of. That it did end up becoming an item that was up for sale at some point. We did think of an initiative to going forward and working with that building, and we did recognize that there is a need for one-bedroom apartments. I will have Acting President, CEO to respond. Thank you.
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 620
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 620
Carpenter
Thank you, Madam Chair. As Mr. Martin has mentioned, we do have a budget set aside to demolish that property. However, we have heard there might be some interest, so we are going to go out one last time and advertise it, see what response we get. If we don't get a response to repurpose that building or reuse it for some other reason, we will proceed down the demolition route. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 620
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 620
Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes
Thank you, Madam Chair. Since we are going down that area, I know in my community, there are other units that are on the future to be demolished. I am just wondering. I know some time ago, the same units, they did sell. The lots sold. Families are still living in those units that are privately sold. I am just wondering if there is a reason why those units haven't been put up for sale, as well. I am looking at the multi-builds that are down in my riding. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 620
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 620
Paulie Chinna Sahtu
Thank you, Madam Chair. I just need clarification. Are these vacant, multi-built houses in the Member's riding? Is that clear?
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 620
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 620
Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes
Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes. These are vacant. I think they are shut-down, vacant, multi-builds. In the past few years, they've been renovated, they have brand new siding, they have new windows, and then they are sitting empty and now are being slated, I am understanding from a briefing that I got, to be possibly torn down. I am just wondering if there is an opportunity to sell them that people in my community with low income who may meet that threshold want to buy those before we tear them down after we spent money on putting new siding and new windows and stuff on them. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 620
The Chair Julie Green
Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation.
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 620
Paulie Chinna Sahtu
Thank you, Madam Chair. I would have to get back to the Member because I am a little bit confused. I don't know if these areas are meant for -- because we do have RCMP units that are coming up, and we do need to build in the communities. I believe that Inuvik is getting 17, I am assuming. Yes, 17 units. I just need to be clear on where these units are. If they were renovated and if we don't have anybody living in them and if they were vacant, I need to verify if we are the owners of these units or if they are potential sales. Thank you, Madam Chair.