Bob Bromley

Mr. Chairman, thanks for those comments from the Minister. I think, Mr. Chairman, this highlights a situation that we faced in all of our infrastructure in other departments. I think the government has been quite progressive. They have had an infrastructure subcommittee. I believe the deputy ministers tuned up that process quite a bit. We also, as a House, have implemented a new process for our capital budget. That has allowed that implementation.

I am wondering, it is different for the Housing Corporation, I understand. I appreciate this opportunity to discuss this now, but my understanding is...

Thanks for that confirmation. We are seven months into the year 2011. The last I understood, the units planned for this year had not started construction. Obviously, we are into the winter season now. I am wondering, first of all, what is the status of construction for the 2010-11 year. What are the expectations for carryover into 2011-12?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank my colleagues Mr. Jacobson and Mr. Abernethy for bringing this motion forward. I think the public housing tenants often have other debts, possibly to family members or their friends or retailers that have been supporting them in their time of need. This sort of thing helps to address this sort of situation. Flexibility and a graduated rent assessment application or a responsible policy that realistically deals with income that varies over time would be an important support for public housing tenants struggling to get by.

Many families are unique in...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are unquestionably many issues to grapple with in the area of public housing, as the Minister well understands, at least by the end of today. I’m sure he knew about this before and I admit that these are often complex issues and difficult to move forward on. I’ve given great consideration, paid very close attention to the issues brought forward to me by my constituents and others. I’ve settled with my colleague in bringing forward this motion on a reduction of 30 to 25 percent of the rent as a maximum.

I think perhaps the best way to portray this is simply to go...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to deal with Motion 19-16(5), Reduction of NWT Housing Corporation Maximum Rental Rate, which I gave notice of on Wednesday, October 27, 2010. Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the comments from the Minister. Mr. Speaker, I am profiling one example here. I am looking for a systemic response. I am sure the Minister understands that I appreciate his offer to help this family.

The situation of rental arrears is obviously urgent and stressful for both individuals and for the local housing offices. Each housing office’s total rental arrears have exploded, again because of this situation. The Housing Corporation reacts by reducing LHOs’ subsequent funding according to the amount of uncollected rents. As a result, one housing association has come...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are also for the Minister of the NWT Housing Corporation. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the Minister’s transfer of the responsibility for public housing rent collections from ECE back to the Housing Corporation. While a modest beginning, the Minister must now act to clean up the wreckage left behind by that failed and destructive policy.

There are now tens of thousands of dollars of debt for most of each family that is now in rental arrears, yet that debt is an illusion resulting from an income documentation process that was unrealistic, unworkable and, in many...

This isn’t about theory or process or policy reform; this is about misery and a broken home this government caused with poorly considered, ultimately destructive operational changes.

I will be asking the Minister questions on how any of us can hold our heads up and what we plan to do about this. I will ask the House to consider a motion later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Chairman, that is good news indeed. I understand it allows the planning. You have to reserve space for shipping and do the planning for ordering and so on. Does it allow negotiation of contracts for construction? Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, I realize there are challenges and in negotiating a construction by local businesses I hope that is a policy of the Housing Corporation throughout the Northwest Territories. I certainly appreciate any progress on that front, because I think that work is obviously quite critical to the communities.

I also understand that crucial delays can happen in Cabinet decisions during the prime construction season. I think that is something that the Minister might take up to see if progress can be made and the timing of those decisions. What are the cost implications for construction during...