This is page numbers 659 - 708 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 community.

Topics

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Member for Nunakput.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Madam Chair. In regard to that, okay, housing sold units in Tuktoyaktuk. We're having a coastal erosion program now, not SAFE whatsoever. We have funding that is moving houses right now; supposedly, that's going to go through in the next month. For securing assistance for emergency, SAFE, and the seniors aging in place retrofits and repairs, the people who are being moved in my home community from the shoreline, are they eligible for those two programs, for the $1.56 million and the $800,000, once the houses are moved? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Minister.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just wanted to clarify. Yes, this program is available to private homeowners, and we would have to look at the applications submitted and the amount of assistance that is required. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Member for Nunakput.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Madam Chair. Just in regard to what I brought up, we have three houses. Two were built in the 1990s; one was built in the 2000s. There's a fourth house, but we can't touch that house because it was built by a person's father and they can't move it. That being said, houses that we've been selling to the people, those three houses that we sold to them, that they're paying property tax on that's going to come up in the next one, for MACA, paying property tax, but it's all ocean-front now, 22 inches away. Now, that being said, once these houses are moved through federal dollars, through the hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk, I could come back and tell my constituents that they are eligible for the SAFE housing and the aging in place for seniors? Is that correct? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, the Member is correct. Thank you.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Member for Nunakput.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you. That's all for now, thanks.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

All right. Are there any further questions under programs and district operations? Seeing no further questions, please turn to page 373. Oh, you have questions? Okay. Member for Monfwi.

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Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Madam Chair, just on the SAFE program, the CARE program, seniors aging in place retrofit and repairs, we've identified the 2020 main estimates. I'm just curious, the program itself, is it all income-tested, household income? The reason I'm asking is there were questions on that with ECE, I believe. There is a seniors fuel subsidy, and we only income-test the heads of households; not family members living with them, but just the two heads of households. Have we considered that for these programs? I know there are some people living in the community who don't qualify because their household income is higher or even lower, so I'm just curious, Madam Chair, if that can be clarified.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Chair. It is income-tested by household income, but going forward, I am open to be looking at these applications. Should any of the Members have difficulty accessing the programs that the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation has to offer, I am open to be looking at them. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Member for Monfwi.

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Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Masi, Madam Chair. I highly urge this Minister to seriously consider possibly making -- because it is a policy change, similar to what we've done with ECE in the past, and it worked really well for seniors and elders in the community. Housing is a big challenge in the community, people accessing it, and there are so many complaints and issues. I think, once the Minister looks into this and makes some minor changes with regard to household income versus the head of household income, I think that will make a huge difference. I am seriously hoping that the Minister will consider that as we move forward with this particular program, policy-driven. Masi.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Member, for your comment. That's correct, I will be looking at the policies going forward and looking at changes that would meet the needs of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Are there any further questions on the programs and district operations? Seeing no further questions, please turn to page 373. NWT Housing Corporation, programs and district operations, operations expenditure summary, 2020-2021 Main Estimates, $34,021,000. Does committee agree?

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, committee. Now, we can turn to departmental summary, found on page 359. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Steve Norn

Steve Norn Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Marsi cho, Madam Chair. I move that this committee defer further consideration of the estimates for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation at this time.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

The motion is on the floor and is being distributed. Sergeant-at-Arms, you can escort the witnesses out. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Question has been called. All those in favour. All those opposed? Abstentions? The motion is carried.

---Carried

We will now take a five-minute break so that we can switch over to MACA. All right. Thank you.

---SHORT RECESS