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. Mr. Carpenter.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair. As the Minister indicated, we're just in the process of that position's about to expire, and then we're going to do our assessment as to its effectiveness. Just to elaborate on what that position was created to do is: we wanted to do a pilot project in a community where there were tenants facing homelessness or evictions. It's really more of this individual works with those tenants as a navigator, not only for what we can do in terms of housing, but other government departments that can provide wraparound services to keep these people housed. That's what we were doing. 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, Mr. Carpenter. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

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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Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Yes. Thank you, Madam Chair. This is a real good-news/bad-news story. The program worked, but it's going to expire. Why wasn't this position evaluated in advance of the expiry date? 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, Member. Minister responsible for NWT Housing Corporation.

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

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Chair. Being the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, I'm looking for very strong initiatives and a very strong, positive approach. This was one of our successful positions that we've had dealing with the current situation we have throughout the Northwest Territories. I am invested into this position and positions likes this. Going forward, we do have an expiry date of March 31st, but it will be continuing. 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 Yellowknife Centre.

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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Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you to the Minister for that. Does that mean that the person who occupies this position will still be employed by April 1st? 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, 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. The person that was employed and working within this position, very strong skilled and very experienced with the Housing Corporation, I did have other plans for her, so we might be working with this a little bit differently. She does have a lot of skill that I would like to use in another area, so there might be a new person to fill this position. 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 Yellowknife Centre.

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Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Madam Chair. I don't understand the point of blowing up a program that is working. It seems to me that given the fact that this program was in place for at least a couple of years, and the end date was a known end date, that the assessment of the program and the budgeting for a continuation since it proved successful, could have been done. The Minister is a new minister, but I don't know why the Housing Corporation didn't plan for success instead of waiting for this whole thing to lapse. Could someone explain that to me? 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, Member. Minister.

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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 looked at this position, and it's very successful. Unfortunately, I don't know why the position wasn't assessed prior to the expiration date of the end of the two-year pilot project. I will have Mr. Carpenter elaborate on that. 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. Mr. Carpenter.

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Carpenter

Thank you, Madam Chair. This was a brand new initiative that we embarked on. We never did anything like this before, so we ran it as a pilot. Right from the start, we wanted to run it as a pilot to see how it worked out. As the Minister indicated, we're getting lots of positive results in terms of there has been diminished evictions in the community. This is something that we funded with our own resources. We don't have an official position for that, so that's what we have to work towards to establish the funding to continue with this program. 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, Mr. Carpenter. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

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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Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Again, I'm going to be very blunt. This is very poor practice. The Integrated Case Management program in the Department of Justice was a pilot program, and it was evaluated before its expiration date. Then the case was made for continued funding for the Integrated Case Management plan. That's what good planning looks like. The idea that this program has to lapse -- there aren't funds in it in this budget, so likely it won't be until the next budget that we see the funds for this. In the meantime, this person was effective. The program was effective. The program could be scaled up to communities and other parts of the NWT. I hear my colleagues talking about housing tenancy issues all the time, to do with arrears, damage, and other issues of that kind. My final question here will be: when do you anticipate coming to us to ask for money to continue this position and expand this program? 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, Member. Minister.

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Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you, Member, for your comments. I do see the importance of this position. Once I heard about this position and I got to meet them and see what this position entailed and the success that had been brought forward in Behchoko and looking at the success that it's had, I wanted to look at this, as well, and see what it would look like if we expanded this out into the smaller communities and the effects that it would have. Going forward, this position, with the budget and where we're at right now, I would like to come forward in June and to look at this position. I want to add a little more to it, as well, and looking at the areas, as well. I'm really mindful of Nunakput and the Mackenzie Delta and the Beaufort-Delta, as well, that we do have significant situation up there. I want to be very creative with this position and look at the success and look long-term at this in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. We will move on to Member for Kam Lake.

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Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. My first question is in regard to the district operation budget reflected on page 373. I've noticed that the North Slave, South Slave, Nahendeh districts all have increased budgets, whereas the Beaufort-Delta district has actually a decreased budget. Is that reflective of the need of each region? 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, Member. Minister.

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Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Chair. This would have to do with the amortization within this budget. I'm going to have Mr. Martin elaborate on that and answer the question. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Martin.