David Krutko

I think one of the most accessible programs that we delivered in the Northwest Territories where we don’t have LHOs or people basically still are pretty independent was the HAP housing program where people went out of their way. They cut their logs. They took the initiative on themselves. They got a lot. They basically went out, put sweat equity into this thing. They helped build the house. At the end of the day, they owned it. Yet, there was money there to deal with electrical issues, deal with the mechanical stuff which was separate from the program. I think that, if anything, that is how we...

One of the problems we run into, especially with a lot of our local authorities, is having the ability to evict people if you know that they are carrying out illegal activities such as bootlegging, selling drugs out of public housing units. I think for a lot of our residents in our community they get frustrated saying that you know this is going on, you’re not doing anything about it, and I know we’ve been looking at changing the rules. I believe the way it reads right now, you are not allowed to carry out any illegal activities in public housing, but I think it’s a question of how far can you...

I’d like to call the House back to order. At this time, I’d like to ask the Minister of the Housing Corporation if he’d like to bring in witnesses. Mr. McLeod.

One of the other areas that we do, as a corporation, have to look at is that we are going to be taking back the rent supp program from housing. I noted that that money is still in the ECE budget but again, it has to come over. So there is going to be a transitional period.

I know that we were looking at some alternatives in regard to challenges we’re facing as the Housing Corporation such as land development. I know we have put land officers in place in different areas to assist in that area, but I think with the decline of the different programs, we may have to see where we can fit those...

Mr. Chair, there used to be an LHO in Tsiigehtchic, but for some reason they did away with the local housing organization. I’d just like to know what’s the chance of reinstating the local housing authority in Tsiigehtchic. They had it before and for some reason that got taken away. So I’d just like to know and also for other communities that do have housing organizations, I know that there have been issues raised about other communities. So especially in regard to Tsiigehtchic, what is it going to take to reinstate the local housing authority?

Is committee agreed?

Mr. McLeod, did you want to respond to the comment?

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that Monday, February 15, 2010, I will move the following motion: now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Nahendeh, that the government develop a program for community long-term care facilities for elders and that the funds for construction of such facilities be included in the 2011-2012 Capital Budget.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also think this government has to do a better job of trying to work with local contractors to be able to deal with the repair aspect of housing. One of the problems we seem to have a problem with is the area of seniors’ homes. I am trying to work them into my statement here. I have three minutes.

Agreed. Moving on to executive, page 5-47, operations expenditure summary. Mr. Bromley.