Roles

In the Legislative Assembly

Elsewhere

Historical Information Don Morin is no longer a member of the Legislative Assembly.

Last in the Legislative Assembly December 1999, as MLA for Tu Nedhe

Won his last election, in 1995, with 68% of the vote.

Statements in the House

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters March 2nd, 1992

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just for the information of the Member, this year Coral Harbour is getting two units of public housing and five units of HAP housing, and three retrofits, so that is a total of 10, compared with Baker Lake getting 12 public and one HAP for a total of 13.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters March 2nd, 1992

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to assure the Member that cabinet colleagues have no more influence over me than any other Member of this Assembly with regard to housing allocations. The housing allocation, while I am Minister, will be driven by the needs assessment that is going to be done by the community. That needs study is going to say how many homes a community needs, what kind, and all that will be weighed equally. Every community is going to be treated as equal. There is not going to be any favouritism to any Member or to any community. I would like to assure the Member of that.

According to the last housing needs survey, the need in Baker Lake was 107 units. In Coral Harbour the need was 43 units. So I guess that is the reason you have 12 and two being introduced into those communities for this year. I would also like to assure the Members that if, for some reason, a needs survey in the past was not done properly in your community, the new needs survey that will be done by the spring of this year will pick up that slack. If you have lost out over the last three years, you are going to gain immediately, because your needs are going to be greater than the other communities that received more. So that will equal out, and it will be equal and fair. Thank you.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters March 2nd, 1992

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. For the Member's information, with the retrofit on the old housing units, they become smaller. I guess the reason for that is the insulation in the walls becomes bigger, so the unit does become smaller. As far as stuff freezing up around the stove, that is a problem that should not happen. There is a problem with the design of the retrofit. I do not have the particulars here, Mr. Pudluk, but I will check into it, because maybe all we have to do is go to inside ventilation of those units. It may be a simple thing to fix, but that is why it is important that the community has a part in design as well as in any retrofits and that we get the community's advice, because they know the wind conditions and they know what happens in their community, so they should be involved in all aspects of that, as well.

The community should be involved in the design of units as well. There are 1962 northern rental units that have not been replaced. We are trying to replace as many as we can every year. We can only replace so many, so it will come to where they all get phased out because they are below standard and our objective is to phase them out.

The renovations start in the fall. Because of the sealift being so late, the only way we could possibly solve that problem, Mr. Pudluk, is by shipping in a year ahead of time, and I will have to check to see if that is possible. That would be one way to do it, but the majority of work, I believe, is in the interior of the unit, and the contractor is responsible for cleaning up behind himself. It is not the community. So if a contractor left a mess, then he should have deducted from his contract the clean-up costs. Hopefully we will not have a contractor leaving the community in the middle of winter, because the community will be doing all that work. That is what I would prefer to see. Retrofits and things like that, we want to see the community doing it, people in the community, so then they are more responsible, as well. That is what we work towards, but in the meantime we will ensure that the contractor does clean up.

It is good to hear that the communities in your area want to get more home-ownership because it is a high priority of the Housing Corporation. We all know that the home-ownership program is the best bang for our dollar. We can build, I think, seven or nine home-ownership units compared to one public unit, which has lifetime costs, so it is the best thing to do.

As far as the local community being involved, the community should be involved, and will be, starting next year when we redevelop the program. With reference to those with higher income, as well as those with lower income, we want to redevelop programs to meet all the needs of the people. Right now all of those needs are not being met. The community should be involved in the allocation of those units as well. Once you develop a program and it is straightforward, and all the rules and policies are there, then the community can do it. I support the communities' getting more and more involved in their housing needs and trying to solve them. Thank you.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters March 2nd, 1992

The big difference from before is that prior to this -- I am not sure what the budget was last year; I do not have that figure in front of me -- to drive millions of dollars of capital projects, the Housing Corporation spent $10,000 on a survey. That is ludicrous. That is crazy. You have to pay or invest in getting something good, and with the community as well as Members contributing to the drafting of the survey instrument to begin with, and then the community doing it -- I do not think the communities ever fully understood the importance of the survey. Some did and took advantage of it -- I should not say took advantage of it, but they did it right and others did not do it right. They did not understand that this was the housing allocation for the next three years.

So we will drive that home. I think it will be driven home by Members of this Assembly when you go back to your ridings of how important this survey and how important it is that the community does it properly, with the Housing Corporation's assistance. So that is going to make the difference. Last year our portion was $71 million and you spend $10,000 -- that is not right.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters March 2nd, 1992

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. At the present time we are just starting to redraft a housing needs survey and direction is very clear that the communities will be doing it. It will be done by the communities with the assistance of the Housing Corporation. It will be done in their language as well, because they are the ones that are going to do it and live by it. It will also be what their preference is. If it is HAP housing or public housing, that will all be in that survey, and it will be from house to house and everything should be encompassed in that survey, and it should be done as well -- that is what drives our need from CMHC, so it will be acceptable to them as well. So that is a good motion.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters March 2nd, 1992

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to reassure the Member that the Housing Corporation's direction, and the direction they have received, is that they are here to help the communities develop. They are an economic instrument. They are not only here to build houses, and the word or direction has been sent out to employees that we are here to assist the communities to develop. There is no more of the mentality that we sit back and only inspect and police our contracts. Our project staff are instructed that they are here to assist the communities to develop as a community. That includes training programs and all the other things you can achieve from capital projects. That direction is very clear and I hope it is well understood. If people do not agree with it, then they can pack and go somewhere else, but if they are going to work for the corporation, that is the direction that they must work by. It is as simple as that. That is what we are all here to do: we are here to create jobs in the community.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters March 2nd, 1992

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I agree that we should develop a more long-range plan so that communities can submit their housing needs, and they know what they are going to build in the future. It also ties in with training programs so you can have a more co-ordinated effort, and in the end you can have some people trained to build the units and you can deal with fundamental issues to get people all housed properly, and then we will have a more productive society. So I do not have any problems with that motion.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters March 2nd, 1992

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On my left is Larry Elkin, president of the Housing Corporation; and on my right is Jim Pratt, vice-president of finance.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters March 2nd, 1992

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Can I bring in my witnesses?

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters March 2nd, 1992

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The mandate of the Housing Corporation is to assist residents of the NWT in accordance with need; to secure and maintain adequate, suitable and affordable shelter at a reasonable cost. These three terms: adequate, suitable and affordable shelter, are national standards that the federal, provincial and territorial government housing agencies use to determine the need and eligibility for social housing.

NWT Housing Needs Growing

Housing needs in the NWT are large and growing, and with a birth rate that is double the national average and the high rate of new families, the demand will remain high. The growing need for social housing, combined with the need to make budget cuts provides a real challenge for the Housing Corporation.

In its effort to meet this housing need, the corporation plans to build 232 public housing units and 152 home-ownership assistance units in 1992-93. This is a net increase to the social housing stock of 384 units, a net production that is higher than in 1990-91 and 1991-92.

The corporation also plans to retrofit 42 old public housing units, the Weber units. As a result of overall federal government restraint Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, the corporation's federal funding partner, reduced the Housing Corporation's allocation of federal units by 15 per cent. In 1991-92 CMHC also introduced a new model which has significant implications for housing in the North.

Changes In Funding

In the past, the Housing Corporation received its allocation in terms of overall federal housing units. This allowed the GNWT to fund the Housing Corporation to deliver a certain number of cost-shared units, no matter what the lifetime operating costs of those units. Starting in the fiscal year 1991-92, CMHC began funding according to a fixed dollar amount, rather than a fixed number of housing units. In other words, the Housing Corporation received an amount of funding that included the capital costs for constructing social housing units and their lifetime operating costs.

High lifetime operating costs -- for example, high water and sewage rates -- means less moneys available for the construction of new housing units. It is, therefore, critical that the individual occupants contribute more toward the costs of operating and maintaining their homes. Both the corporation and the public must join in a combined effort to reduce costs.

While the changes in funding will have an effect on how funds are distributed over all our programs, the corporation has a greater degree of flexibility to follow overall government direction and encourage people to become private home-owners.

Given the urgent housing needs, the rapidly growing population and the present climate of fiscal restraint, it is essential that new options be explored to encourage private investment in housing.

Over the course of the coming year, the corporation will be reviewing all its program policies and procedures. Clearly defined policies and guidelines are needed to ensure that scarce resources are allocated as effectively and equitably as possible. Appropriate changes to programs will be made and the corporation will ensure that program guidelines are closely followed.

Needs Survey

The next needs survey will be conducted in early 1992. Corporation staff are currently in the process of improving the questionnaire to ensure that the data provides a more accurate profile of the housing need in the communities. It is essential that both communities and corporation staff are confident in the survey's reliability as an accurate guide for housing allocations.

To the extent possible, social housing dollars should be aimed at households in greatest need. The corporation will continue to explore new ways to encourage home-ownership and aid in the development of a private rental market in communities. The corporation is developing options for those persons who do not qualify for the home-ownership assistance program because they either earn too much or too little.

Special Program To Meet Needs Of Elderly

Special attention is being paid to the elderly population and the particular housing problems they have. For example, a number of smaller communities have no public housing and elders often find themselves living in old, small, very substandard privately owned accommodation. As well as providing more information about repair programs for elders, the corporation started to replace these substandard units with small, mechanically simple, but good quality new homes for elders in selected communities. The corporation will build on this idea and develop program specifically to meet the unique needs of the elderly population. It is intended to have a program developed in time to begin implementation this year.

While the main emphasis for the corporation in 1992-93, as in the past, will be the delivery of critically needed housing, these activities will be framed within GNWT priorities, particularly those of economic development and community government.

Over the past decade the corporation has had considerable success in hiring and training local residents to manage and maintain our housing stock. The corporation will strengthen these efforts and will work in close co-operation with local housing organizations, community groups and government departments to create more opportunities for trades and professional training.

In addition, the Housing Corporation will utilize various tendering methods to ensure maximum local and northern involvement. To that end, programs will be delivered in a number of ways: labour-only contracts; supply, ship and erect contracts; design/build contracts; and projects where the corporation will be the project manager. The objective of all four tendering methods is to maximize training, business and employment opportunities for local residents.

Another key focus of the Housing Corporation in 1992-93 will be to work closely with government to develop and implement the government's community transfer initiatives. The corporation will begin the development of a strategy which will be used to facilitate and guide the implementation of this priority.

The total capital budget is $62,878,000, of which CMHC's share is $35,430,000 and the Government of the Northwest Territories' share is $27,448,000.

The capital funds requested will provide for 384 new houses. With fiscal restraint every effort is being made to target limited funds to those households most in need of assistance. The corporation is improving its programming and administrative practice to ensure the best use of limited resources, and at the same time meet the social housing needs of Northerners. In support of the community transfer initiatives, the corporation will strengthen its efforts and create additional training opportunities for local residents through its programs.

The initiatives I just reviewed show a great deal of innovation and flexibility, which the corporation will continue to strive for as we work toward our goals. There is a real limit to what the corporation and CMHC can do, the limit being the amount of territorial and federal dollars available for the construction, operation and maintenance of social housing. Only a combined effort can address the fiscal realities of today. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.