David Krutko

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as you know, we have concluded different needs surveys. We have been able to pinpoint a lot of these areas where we do have very low standards in regard to living conditions where people live. I think that whole thrust behind the reports that have come forward is we have identified some 20 communities that are in core need, and I think through those needs surveys we are able to identify those communities that need the resources. As a department, we are making sure that all the resources that we do have are going to those communities to get down those...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, we have reduced in the area of, as we all know, the human resources section. That has now been centralized, so there has been a decline in the human resources positions of the department due to the centralization throughout government departments. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, again, we have to realize that we are dealing with different parties dealing with the social impact benefits. What we are hoping to do is have some verbal, if not written, commitment made prior to the decision to go forward with the pipeline, and also making sure that when the decisions are made on wherever these camps are going to be, that at the end of the project, we will have the ability to take those over at a negotiated price, working with the federal government to get the resources we will need for this project in the next five years. We need to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don’t have that detail in regard to the actual operational costs, but I know in regard to Somba K’e we had winterized that facility, which basically shut down last winter. We are in the process now of talking with the band and other corporations, and I know that the facility in Tuk was occupied with a few elders last year, but they are being used. So, Mr. Speaker, I don’t have the total operational costs of those facilities, but we are looking at alternative uses for those facilities, and we are trying to occupy them. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with regard to the headquarters and the operation of the Housing Corporation, roughly the total budget is in the range of seven percent, which is a lot lower than other departments. A majority of our expenses are spent in the communities, and we have a district staff roughly in the range of five percent of the budget. So between the district offices and the headquarters office, you’re looking at just a little over 10 percent, which, compared to other departments, is very low. I think that you have to realize that almost 85 percent of our budget is expended...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if the project goes according to time schedules, we are hoping to look at this project proceeding somewhere in 2010.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is the direction that was given by Cabinet when this was taken out. It had to be at full cost recovery and that’s exactly how it has been operated. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have to wake up to reality here that we do have a housing crisis in the Northwest Territories and, at the pace that we are going, we cannot afford to put 2,000 units on the ground with the existing budget that we have as a government. We have to find unique ways of being able to accomplish that, with realizing that this is one of the ways that we can do that. I think that, as Members can note, you go to every community up and down the valley and see that there are people living in trailers, either here in Yellowknife or other places in the Territories...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with regard to phase one, the 22 units, we do have 18 units occupied. There are four units that aren’t occupied. Sixteen units are occupied by professionals, but we have sold two units in Tulita and one in Fort Resolution. Interest has been shown for other units in Fort Good Hope and Fort Liard.

Mr. Speaker, people have taken up housing units in those communities. Because they are available and people realize they are there, they understand what the cost of renting these units are. With the promotion of the Department of Education and ourselves, people...

Mr. Speaker, I would like to, again, remind the Member that I have presented this to committee. We have given documentation out. Again, this will not see the light of day unless there is a pipeline. We have to work with our different parties that are out there, and that it is all hinging on a decision to go forward for a pipeline. Without that decision, we will not have this project.