David Krutko

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have seriously thought this through in regards to the type of construction we are going to use. We are looking at multi-dwelling facilities, getting away from the stick-built single housing construction, because we are looking at the energy efficiency of these units versus the old units, but also looking at new building methods and materials that we use, which will basically give you better R value. We’re able to heat the homes at less costs, but also ensuring that we do allow homes to be built for senior people with disabilities and also try to meet...

Mr. Speaker, at the present time, no, there is no such program in existence.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we are looking at consolidating our programs into four general areas, and also we're looking at increasing the borrowing limits that we have had in these programs before. I think by increasing that, looking at especially the eligibility criteria that we have in our programs so that it's more accessible to all residents in the Northwest Territories. But more importantly, we do look at the energy efficiency of how do we improve homes to make them more energy efficient but also make them cost neutral so you're not spending more money. If anything, you'll be...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I rise to update Members on progress made to date on the affordable housing initiative that will provide a $100 million investment in affordable housing in the Northwest Territories over the next three years.

Mr. Speaker, commitments made by this government to invest in housing through the affordable housing initiative will give us a lasting impact on our residents, our communities, and our territory for generations to come. Our success in acquiring the federal funding to complement the GNWT's investment will provide us with an opportunity to provide residents...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in conjunction with ECE and ourselves in regards to how we are laying out the whole idea of the household subsidy and also looking at the whole rental scale systems that we use, I think we are looking at arrangements that have been done in Nunavut, other places in the country, and also realizing that we are similar in nature to other jurisdictions. Seeing what’s happening in those other jurisdictions and ensuring that we have a system that is either consistent with other jurisdictions, but it’s fair to our tenants and the residents in the Northwest...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we are looking at the whole area of who do we calculate rent from gross income versus another system that we use looking at the…I think it’s important that whatever we do we are going to have to…Any rent that we change we have to ensure that we follow the tenants act that is in place by notifying our clients that there is going to be a change, and also whatever we do here has to conform with how we are able to not only look at the policies that we have within the government, but also ensuring that we have a system that’s working in conjunction with other...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the department is looking at the rental rate review in which we are hoping to have something come forward in conjunction with what’s happening with the transfer of the social housing subsidy and also realizing that we do have to be open, transparent and fair to all our clients across the territory. So we are looking at it in conjunction of a universal review of the whole program throughout the territory. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I commit to the Member that I will sit down with him and the community to review the emergency measures plan, what investment we made in the community by upgrading the existing power plant to ensure we avoid these situations. More importantly, we will assure the seniors that we do have a safe and secure power distribution system in the community so that we do not have the situation we had last year. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, again, we have had a power outage with regard to the incident last winter because of the hydropower that caused the outage. Because of the old diesel generator backup system we had in the community, it was not functioning properly and we made the decision to replace the generator that is there, so we won’t have the situation we had last year. The idea of having two systems in the community is to ensure we have an adequate source of power, so that when the power does go out, you have a backup system. The system that is there now will serve the community for...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as we all know, when there are emergencies or power outages or fires or power plants burn down, there is a backup plan in place in every community by way of the emergency measures that are in place through the municipalities, through the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs and other government agencies to ensure that we have evacuation plans in place, so when we have these instances, we are able to respond. So there is an emergency plan in place that will allow the transportation of the elders or seniors to the appropriate accommodation either...