David Krutko

Yes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, like I stated, we are working closely with our partners in Nunavut with this legislation and we are looking to ensure that the phase two recommendations are proceeding. A lot of that does have to deal with ensuring we have a system of how to deal with appeals, and how to ensure clients are dealt with fairly. I think through the changes and the input from myself and my counterpart from Nunavut, we’ve had these discussions on making some major changes, but also ensuring that we have a transparent system that works for both jurisdictions, and also realizing...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the legislation that I talk about in regard to the draft legislation does address the issue of the appeals process. We realize there are some concerns in that area and in order to make it work better, we have to make those changes. So we are addressing the area of the appeals because of concerns, but we’re also trying to have a transparent system through the new legislation to ensure that when people come forward and they have an appeal, that the appeal is being heard and that we’ve responded to it without having legislation that is overlapping between the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with regard to the question that the Member asked, as it sits right now, nobody in the Northwest Territories has the certification to provide these types of mobile homes. In order to meet national standards, Canadian National Building Codes, and getting the certification that’s needed to build these units, right now no one has that certification in the Northwest Territories.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We do have such a program, but people aren’t really made aware of it. We do have a log housing initiative that is in place. Individuals who want to go out who want to harvest their own logs, peel their logs and bring them back into town, can have them ready on the site. There is a program to assist those people by way of getting a package from the corporation for the electrical and materials to finish off the unit. Because of the log housing initiative that has happened such as HAP, we ran into problems. The new initiative is based on single, one-storey units. Sweat...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of the processes we’re working on is trying to ensure people have a better understanding of our programs and services with regard to the IHP programs, independent housing programs, our EDAP programs and other programs that are out there. I think that because of the needs surveys we have, I know it’s an issue here in the House, on how those dollars are allocated. But again, it’s an application-based program. We do have program dollars going into Jean Marie River this fiscal year. Also, looking at the needs surveys that we do have, we are looking at revising our...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, again, this was an initiative that was done trying to ensure that we meet the needs of our communities and looking at the long-term initiative. The first phase was to try to accommodate the professionals in communities. We heard from the DEAs and the education councils. They said there was a need for housing in those communities. By the time these units were in place in those communities, a lot of people…Right now, we have Fort Res residents approaching the Housing Corporation to purchase these units. In Fort Res, those units came in at a cost of about...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, again, it’s a process that we go through by way of a 10-year plan that we have developed. In that plan we are implementing the new needs surveys and also trying to ensure that we are able to accommodate communities that are in need, according to the survey. But more importantly, Mr. Speaker, it has to meet the budgetary criteria for the corporation. As we know, we are now phasing out social funding. Again, in order to meet that need, we have to work within the budget. So right now, Mr. Speaker, we have to allocate based on need, but also within the budget...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think the Member should maybe go into these communities and see how many people are occupying these units.

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In the community of Fort Good Hope, we have three teachers staying in one unit. So you accommodate three people in one unit, and that does not mean that all four units aren’t occupied. I think the whole idea to bring down the cost if people want to share rent and whatnot by having roommates, more power to them because they are only paying in the area of $300 a month for rent. I think you can’t go wrong with regard to that, where we have people in...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s my honour to recognize three people in the gallery, famous artists: Mr. Antoine Mountain.

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Also Margaret Donovan, who runs a gallery here in Yellowknife, from Tsiigehtchic.

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Also Victor Stewart, who’s a recreation director in Fort McPherson. Welcome to the House.

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