Thank you, Madam Chair. The most recent numbers I have, which are a few years old now, it was around 60 percent of the cases involved public housing, but that is going back early in the last Assembly. I am not sure if we have more recent stats. I don't think it would be a stretch to say it's probably the majority, but I will see if the deputy minister might have some information. Thank you.
Debates of March 3rd, 2021
This is page numbers 2299 - 2340 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 indigenous.
Topics
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Doolittle
Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, the Housing Corporation is the highest user of the rental services. I'm just trying to see if I have that number with me. I believe it is in the 50 percentage, Madam Chair, but I don't have that exact number, what 50 percent, with me. They are the highest user, and it is in the 50 percentage area. Thank you, Madam Chair.
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Katrina Nokleby Great Slave
Thank you, Madam Chair. Just further to that, then, with the way that COVID is impacting our rental community at the moment, there is a lot of fear I'm hearing from constituents about making their rents, and the rent reliefs were really needed and helpful. However, I'm just wondering if we anticipate that we're going to actually see an increase again in the demands and services of the rental office, and I'm wondering if it is perhaps going to be underfunded for the upcoming year, given the COVID implications that we're seeing? Thank you, Madam Chair.
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Doolittle
Thank you, Madam Chair. At this time, we are carefully watching our numbers and taking our statistics. I'll just mention that, as of December 21, 2020, the average time between date of application filed within the NWT rental office and hearing date for the matter was five to seven weeks, and this is consistent with previous reporting. The average time between the date of the hearing and the date of an order of a decision has dropped to less than two weeks. We are watching that carefully, and we'll go forward through the business planning process if we do see an increased need. Thank you, Madam Chair.
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Katrina Nokleby Great Slave
Thank you, Madam Chair. It's good to hear that the numbers are improving and wait times are improving. I just am really concerned, or I just want to maybe make a comment to emphasize, and perhaps this isn't quite the right spot for it, but the Minister and just looking at ways to help our constituents. I'm concerned that we're sort of a few months out from a little bit more of a pandemic or housing issue, with people being evicted, with our larger landlords being REITs that aren't necessarily invested in the North. I've been hearing that real estate trusts have almost a bragging thing in their shareholders' reports about how they turn over so many units every year, and then they can up the prices on those units. I'm really concerned that's creating an issue and an unaffordable market for the North. I don't know if the Minister wants to comment in response to that, but I do think there is a piece here in the rental office that has to accommodate for that. Thank you.
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R.J. Simpson Hay River North
Thank you. I don't think it's a secret to anyone that there's a rental crunch in places like Yellowknife and places like Hay River, and there's limited housing. Everyone is alive to the effects of the pandemic. The rental offices are definitely keenly aware of what's going on, and we watch the trends. If there is a need for additional support, it's something that I'm in favour of supporting because I've seen what happens when you really do have those backlogs and how it can negatively affect people. Thank you.
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The Chair Lesa Semmler
Thank you. No further questions? Any further questions under services to the public? Member for Kam Lake.
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Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I just have one quick question in regard to legal registries. I'm just wondering if the same kind of tracking of turnaround times that happened in the rental office happened within legal registries, as well, and if there is a backlog there? I'll start with that. Thank you.
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Doolittle
Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, and we do track our metrics. I'm not aware of any backlog or that we're behind too far where we need to change the course we're tracking on right now. Thank you, Madam Chair.
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Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake
No. Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I appreciate that, and I'll stop there. Thank you.
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The Chair Lesa Semmler
Thank you. Are there any further questions to services to the public? Seeing no further questions to services to the public, please turn to page 298. Justice, services to the public, operations expenditure summary, 2021-2022 Main Estimates, $4,564,000. Does committee agree?
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Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
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The Chair Lesa Semmler
Thank you, Members. Please return now to the department summary found on page 271. Justice, operations expenditures, total department, 2021-2022 Main Estimates, $133,753,000. Does committee agree? Mr. Norn.
Committee Motion 83-19(2): Tabled Document 286-19(2): Main Estimates 2021-2022 - Justice - Deferral of Department (page 271), Carried
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Steve Norn Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh
Marsi cho, Madam Chair. I move that this committee defer further consideration of the estimates for the Department of Justice at this time. Marsi cho, Madam Chair.