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

Ronald Bonnetrouge

Ronald Bonnetrouge Deh Cho

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I sense a reluctance on the part of the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation to commit to a biomass energy strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce reliance on and consumption of diesel fuels. Can the Minister elaborate on the NWT Housing Corporation's plans to comply with the GNWT's energy plan in reducing greenhouse gas emissions? Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Deh Cho. Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Energy efficiency is a huge consideration within the Housing Corporation and when we are building and retrofitting our units. I just wanted to speak about the partnerships that we do have throughout the territory, as well, and trying to alleviate those gas emissions, as well. Looking at how we are building our units, one of the highlights I have just at my fingertips now is that, in Aklavik, we do have a nine-plex that has been constructed, and we are looking at the decrease in using fuel in our units. We also replaced all of the light bulbs in our units, as well, and we are looking at the higher efficiency and savings when constructing our units. However, going back to the Member's comment about looking at an energy efficiency plan, this is what I had brought back to my department, and I would like to bring that back and provide information to the Members, as well, as to how we are changing the way that we are constructing our units and also retrofitting them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Ronald Bonnetrouge

Ronald Bonnetrouge Deh Cho

Mahsi to the Minister for that. I think she is hooked on the energy efficiency that I mentioned in my Member's statement that housing currently practices. I am talking about that step further, about a biomass energy strategy; that is to incorporate wood-pellet boiler systems as district heating, which would greatly reduce reliance on fossil fuels, especially diesel fuel, of which I think housing has got about 2,400, 2,600, or 2,900 units in the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister speak to the long-range plans of the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation as I sense a reluctance to comply with the biomass energy strategies?

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

There is no reluctance from the Housing Corporation. As the Minister holding the portfolio, I am open to a lot of new initiatives throughout the territory and in looking at how we could better run our public housing more efficiently. I am open to having those conversations, and I will follow up with the Member to elaborate on those opportunities. I just have my binders and my folders in front of me. These questions are coming up, and I don't have that information right at my fingertips. It's probably somewhere in my documents here, but I can guarantee to the Member here that we have had this discussion and we have exercised this approach already in a number of our communities throughout the territory. I will follow up with the Member with further information.

Ronald Bonnetrouge

Ronald Bonnetrouge Deh Cho

Mahsi to the Minister for that. While she doesn't have her golden book, I guess I'll keep firing away. The cost of electricity is going up. The cost of heating fuels is going up. This will, in turn, raise tenants' rents and their costs for utilities. How will the Minister and the department combat this scenario?

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Working with the utilities within our public housing units and also looking at the fluctuating use of oil, gas, and electricity, those numbers fluctuate throughout the year, and we do have a strategy within the Housing Corporation to alleviate those costs. I do trust that those costs could be quite significant, but also, they are subsidized costs, as well. Once again, I will follow up with the Member to further elaborate on the response.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.

Ronald Bonnetrouge

Ronald Bonnetrouge Deh Cho

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker, and mahsi to the Minister, who will follow up. Given the likelihood that CMHC will cut funding to the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation for operations and maintenance by 2038, can the Minister commit to a biomass energy strategy to present to CMHC for consideration in the hopes CMHC will have a change of heart? Mahsi.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Absolutely. I will be speaking with my federal counterparts and with Canada, and I will present a strategy such as this because we do need houses on the ground. Looking at the cost of living for the Northwest Territories and the affordability up to our higher, Arctic communities, as well, this would be a significant approach that I will have a conversation with Canada about. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Thebacha.

Frieda Martselos

Frieda Martselos Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Would the housing Minister consider doing a review of all the policies within the Housing Corporation to address all the concerns of the people of the NWT, especially seniors? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, Member, for your comment. Our policies have been brought up a number of times throughout this government, and it is something that I've brought back to my department, as well, looking at updating those policies. I did table a document; I want to say it was early this week. Every week, we're so busy with session that it seems that days have gotten by, but I did table our policy document with a number of changes that are outlined within that policy. I will provide the Member with the updated changes and a copy of the document. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Frieda Martselos

Frieda Martselos Thebacha

Would the housing Minister consider, within this review, setting a policy for ensuring that our seniors are not discriminated against, are treated equally, and consider a fair, one-rate system for all seniors?

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Client service is a priority of mine, personally, and I want to make sure that we deal with each of our clients fairly and consistently throughout the territory, looking at the seniors and how the Housing Corporation administers, and also looking at the rent charges that come with that. I want to bring this back to my department, as well, because I have to display fairness and consistency throughout the territory. We do have a number of homelessness issues throughout the territory. We do have overcrowding, as well, and our wait list is quite significant. I will bring this back to my department. It's going to take further consideration and a further review to bring those answers back to the Member.

Frieda Martselos

Frieda Martselos Thebacha

The seniors have paved the way for us in our present life. They worked hard and gave us values. The Minister should reconsider how seniors and clients of the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation are treated and ensure that systemic racism doesn't take place. Does the Minister agree with this?

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Yes, I agree. We are working with seniors throughout the territory, whether it be subsidies for cost of living, whether it be housing, whether it be additional services that the government does provide. Looking at the way we work with the seniors within the Housing Corporation, I want to make sure there is fairness and consistency. Also, not only that, but the Housing Corporation has made changes to work with the seniors throughout the Northwest Territories. The Housing Corporation has built nine seniors' complexes throughout the territory. We have also alleviated the need for land tenure and insurance for our programming for private senior homeowners, as well. With those going forward, I think the Housing Corporation has made significant changes, and I hear the Member that we can't address every single scenario throughout the territory. The Housing Corporation is making movement, and I will provide an update to the Member.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Thebacha.

Frieda Martselos

Frieda Martselos Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A complete review of the NWT Housing Corporation's housing policies must take place. The way clients are treated must be reviewed, as the front-line workers are a reflection of our values as elected leaders. Does the Minister agree with this? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Client service is a priority of mine, and one of the studies and reviews that we did, we conducted one in Fort Smith at the local housing authority, and the number of discoveries that we had through that led to client service improvement. This is an approach that I would like to exercise throughout the Northwest Territories, looking at all 23 LHOs and LHAs throughout the Northwest Territories and having this review done, and bringing that back to the table so that we can identify significant improvement at the local community level. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On April 23, 2014, an agreement was signed between the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation and the Government of the Northwest Territories to transfer the corporation's 838 lots in fee simple title. This was going to be done for $1, Mr. Speaker. My question for the Minister of Lands is: how many of those leases have lease transferred since signing the agreement in 2014?

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Minister of Lands.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Sixteen. Thank you.