Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Public Housing

Committee Members heard anecdotal reports from constituents who must improvise methods to regulate the temperature in public housing due to poor build quality, deterioration of the units, and insufficient maintenance. The committee has heard about tenants in NWT public housing whose units do not adequately retain heat in the winter due, for instance, to interior doors being installed on exterior walls. As a result, tenants may resort to using their stove to heat their unit. The committee also heard about tenants in NWT public housing who must open the windows in the winter because the broilers in their buildings release too much heat. Tenants should not have to resort to improvised methods that may be dangerous, energy-inefficient, and financially costly to regulate the temperature of their units. Therefore, the committee recommends:

Recommendation Two

The Standing Committee on Government Operations recommends that the NWT Housing Corporation ensure that all its housing units are fit for habitation, such that tenants are not forced to resort to improvised methods to regulate the temperature of the home.

Committee members also heard anecdotal reports from constituents about high electricity bills caused by the high energy demand of energy-inefficient appliances in public housing. Tenants in public housing do not own the major appliances in their units and depend on the landlord, the NWT Housing Corporation, to install energy efficient appliances that lower electricity bills.

The committee notes that NWT Housing Corporation's mission statement includes the goal of “implementing energy efficiency technologies” to enhance the long-term sustainability of housing assets. The committee welcomes investments that improve the energy efficiency of units and appliances in NWTHC's upcoming Energy Strategy. Therefore, the committee recommends:

Recommendation Three

The Standing Committee on Government Operations recommends that the NWT Housing Corporation conduct a review of all household appliances, heating equipment, water heaters, and lighting products in housing units to ensure they meet current federal energy efficiency standards.

I will now pass the reading of the report to MLA Martselos.