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

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. 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. I will 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

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Carpenter

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes. As the Member pointed out, the onus is on us to make sure that we are not seen as off-loading a bad product, so we will do our due diligence to ensure that all of the health and safety aspects of the unit are taken care of. Also, the energy efficiency items should be there to make sure that the operating costs are as low as possible. In some cases, a home might cost $10,000 to do those repairs. In others, it's in around the $50,000 range, but as I said, the diligence is on us to do that. In terms of the hazardous-materials assessment, our obligation is to advise the buyer of what we believe are maybe hazardous materials in those units prior to selling 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. 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

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Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

Thank you, Madam Chair. I appreciate hearing the language that the onus is on the department or the organization to ensure that they are not selling a bad product. However, I believe that in the law it is actually a "buyer beware" scenario, and it often is up to the purchaser to ensure that the right things have been put in place et cetera. My next question is: what is the Minister and her department doing to ensure that plain-language communications are happening around environmental liability, housing liability, et cetera, to ensure that the clients know what they are getting into? That could be further to the programs that the -- I forget your title, Mr. Carpenter -- that Mr. Carpenter said about ensuring people understand. What are they doing to ensure people are prepared to repair their homes and that they understand that type of responsibility? 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 2461

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Minister.

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

Page 2461

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Chair. I will 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 2461

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Mr. Carpenter.

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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Carpenter

Thank you, Madam Chair. Part of our transition process for people becoming homeowners is that we provide training to them. We just completed an update of our home maintenance training program, and our focus on it was two parts: first of all, to keep it plain language so people could understand all of the ins and outs of being a homeowner and looking after your home, and the second part is all the safety aspects of the home, as well. We will go through all of the training and walk through. We usually do the training at the home, and it's updated, and we believe it's a very good product. 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 Great Slave.

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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Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

Thank you, Madam Chair. As somebody who is not probably very handy myself, I think that sounds great and welcome an opportunity to take that course myself. Speaking of which, into retrofits and repairs which segues nicely, we do have a mandate to have more seniors age in place. I look at some of the numbers around that, particularly the line item on page 384, there is about a $400,000 drop for the seniors aging in place program. Could the Minister explain what that drop is? It's my understanding that this would be a very well-subscribed program. Is there a want to increase funding here, given that we want more people to stay in place, especially now, after COVID? 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.

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

Page 2461

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Chair. I will 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 2461

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Mr. Carpenter.

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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Carpenter

Thank you, Madam Chair. I don't have the exact specifics of why there would be a reduction, but I can assure the Members that, if we are fully subscribed up to that number, we will move funds around with our Home-Ownership Program to accommodate those extra applicants that we would get.

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 Great Slave.

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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Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

Great. Thank you. I am glad to hear that it's not a cap and there would not be other funding available should we need it. Again, I look at the Habitat for Humanity line item, and I am glad to see that we are supporting such a great organization. To me, it has been great. I live just down the road from one of their builds here in Yellowknife. I would support and maybe would like to ask why there is not more money there, considering. I get that it's probably just a contribution to the organization itself. However, they are tangibly producing homes for people to live in, and so can the Minister just explain why there is not an increase in that number? 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.

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. We continue to work with Habitat for Humanity, and there is a relationship that has been built there. I will have Mr. Franklin Carpenter 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

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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

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Carpenter

Thank you, Madam Chair. As the Minister pointed out, we try to encourage and participate in the Habitat for Humanity projects. What we have been pushing them over the past few years, though, is to go outside of Yellowknife. The last one they did here was in Yellowknife. They do have some trouble getting partners in the outlying communities, but we did put a notional amount there in anticipation that we would get greater uptake. 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 Great Slave.

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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Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

Thank you, Madam Chair. I am again really glad to hear the focus being outside of Yellowknife. I don't want everything to come here to the capital, and I recognize that the home ownership issues are probably much greater in the communities, in the smaller communities. I had the opportunity when I was travelling to go and see the assisted living or the four-plex for the single people in Aklavik with the Minister. I thought that seemed like a great program. I have heard lots about the fact that there is not a lot for individual people to get into units. Can the Minister speak to if there are going to be more of those types of projects? If so, are they under here, or am I in the wrong section? 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 2461

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Minister.