David Krutko

I, for one, feel that we do have to do a better job in regards to how we look at the income thresholds, because it seems to be one of the barriers. Also, with regard to the requirements under the programs where you are disallowed if you’ve had previous programs with the Housing Corporation... I think a lot of people realize that most houses in the communities were put on the ground through the federal housing or aboriginal housing programs through the federal government. Because of that, you’re being disallowed. Is that something that will also be looked at in this review?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, housing is essential infrastructure in our communities to house our families, our friends and, more importantly, to sustain our communities. But, Mr. Speaker, from the latest report from the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, statistics on core needs shows that there is definitely a problem with the number of core units that are in core need, especially in my riding where 43 percent of the houses in Aklavik are in core need, 33 percent in Fort McPherson and 41 percent in Tsiigehtchic.

Mr. Speaker, this government provides programs and services to...

I also believe another area we have to look at is with regard to the delivery of those programs and services. I don’t see why we can’t have program officers in communities where we have over 100 units. Are you going to also look at the possibility of revamping the delivery system that we use to deliver programs and services wherever possible and put program officers in communities that can show there is a need by having enough houses on the ground? Will that also be looked at? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of the Housing Corporation regarding the latest core needs report. The 2009 report compared to the 2004 report, it seems like we haven’t seen any improvements in that area. We put forward new programs and services. At one point we used to have liaison officers in our communities to assist on program delivery. Are we going to review our programs that we do deliver in light of the dismal numbers we see in the report that was just tabled? Thank you.

Question is being called.

---Carried

Does the committee agree that the discussion on Minister’s Statement 47-16(4) is concluded?

I’d like to call Committee of the Whole to order. We have several bills: Bill 3, Medical Profession Act; Bill 11, An Act to Amend the Workers’ Compensation Act; Minister’s Statement 47-16(4), Transfer of the Public Housing Rental Subsidy. What is the wish of the committee, Mrs. Groenewegen?

Clause 81 to 90.

---Clauses 81 through 90 inclusive approved

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Any comments regarding the transfer of public housing rent supp? Mr. Menicoche.

Mr. Speaker, one of the main components of the agreement also talks about needs levels and conservation levels that is basically sustainable for community harvests so that it can sustain the herd on some means of harvesting. I know that they did that in regard to the Bluenose-West herd where they allowed communities tags, where the communities give out those tags to people that want to go harvest a certain species. I think it’s 25 tags per community, so the communities are able still able to sustain that. I’d like to ask the Minister in regard to the issue of needs levels for community...

Clause 61 to 70.

---Clauses 61 through 70 inclusive approved