This is page numbers 2439 - 2492 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 In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 2460

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Chair. Those numbers fluctuate, I'm not sure what they are at right now. I'll have Mr. Jim Martin respond. Thank you.

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

Page 2460

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Mr. Martin.

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

Page 2460

Martin

Thank you, Madam Chair. Under the current funding formula for the shelters the Housing Corporation is funding about $52 per bed. 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

Page 2460

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Member.

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

Page 2460

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Madam Chair. The funding that is going to the disabilities council, what is the amount? 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

Page 2460

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Minister.

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

Page 2460

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'll have Mr. Jim Martin respond. 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

Page 2460

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Mr. Martin.

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

Page 2460

Martin

Thank you, Madam Chair. I don't think we have the specific lease amount details here to share at this time, but we can certainly provide that. Thank you.

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

Page 2460

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Member.

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

Page 2460

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Madam Chair. Because you said, I think it was $50 it must have been a night for a bed? When I did the calculations based on what I know about who is using it, it probably works out, if you include the day shelter, the night shelter, the cost of RCMP time, the cost of the ambulance, you're probably looking at anywhere $8,000 to $10,000 a month per person. When I see that number and then I hear discussion about buying buildings in Yellowknife to accommodate homeless people, we've got a perfect homeless shelter in Hay River, it's called the Mackenzie Place high rise. We may not have to use all of it, but it would be an opportunity to do something. I'll continue asking questions in the House on that building and how the Housing Corporation may be able to participate in utilizing it to reduce their cost per person, where you can probably pay $1,500 to $2,000 a month for an apartment for one of the clients versus paying the cost between the community and this government $8,000 to $10,000 a month. If the Minister wants to comment, that's fine. Thank you.

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

Page 2460

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Minister.

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

Page 2460

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'll take that as a comment. Thank you.

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

Page 2460

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Anything further? All right, if there are no further questions we will move on to programs and district operations, beginning on page 382. Minister.

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

Page 2460

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

I'd like to switch the witnesses. Thank you.

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

Page 2460

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Sergeant-at-Arms, would you please switch the witnesses? Minister, would you please introduce your witness for the record?

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

Page 2460

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Chair. Programs and operations vice-president, Mr. Franklin Carpenter. Thank you.

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

Page 2460

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Welcome. We will now begin with programs and district operations on page 382 with information items following that. Member for Great Slave.

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

Page 2460

Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm looking at page 384 and the lease to own program. To start, can the Minister explain: is this a new program and that's why we don't see any in the 2019-2020 actuals, or for some reason it wasn't spent in that year? 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

Page 2460

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

Page 2460

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'll have Vice-President Franklin Carpenter respond. Thank you.

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

Page 2460

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Mr. Carpenter.

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

Page 2460

Carpenter

Thank you, Madam Chair. The lease-to-own program is two parts, really. It's an enhancement of a previous program to enable our public-housing tenants make the transition to home ownership, and the second part is we are still planning to get back into constructing new homes. That is a part that is not quite there yet as we have not been able to build new homes yet, but it's a two-part process. 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

Page 2460

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Mr. Carpenter. Member for Great Slave.

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

Page 2460

Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

Okay. Thank you, Madam Chair. I am just not sure if that means that it was in place before. I note that there is a focus and a mandate priority and a commitment to get people into home ownership as a means of alleviating some of the pressures on our housing. I am just curious that I am hearing concerns from community members and residents that the stock that is being proposed to be off-loaded, for lack of a better word, or sold to them, is maybe not perhaps of the standards that it should be. There are concerns over the repair of the homes, et cetera. Can the Minister explain what the department is doing to ensure that liabilities are not being passed on to people who we are getting into home ownership? Are there things like phase 1 or 2 environmental site assessments being done or hazardous-materials studies? Thank you, Madam Chair.