David Krutko

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, right now I can’t state exactly how many units we do have occupied, but we have received some 14 applicants for leasing those units, for professions in the Northwest Territories, so we have received these applications from 14 individuals. But right now until the project is totally completed and we have the units occupied, we can’t say what it is. If the Member wants, I can get him that information.

Did what? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the whole intent of the review is to take a close look at exactly the overall cost of the project, what the benefits were to the northern economy and also to look at the systems to ensure that if we do continue on that we are able to meet the objectives that were set, which is to look at market housing and provide a needed service for non-market communities. We will have that as part of the report. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in regard to the market housing initiative, we are still in the process of implementing that program. We haven’t concluded the construction or got all the units occupied. Some are occupied, others are not. Until the whole project is completed, we will be developing a review of the overall project. We will hopefully have that report ready by December, or November at the earliest.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I should be able to acquire that information and get it to the Member so he is aware of other facilities we’re talking about. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there is a care facility in Deline that has been unoccupied for some time. We have put a proposal to the community to come back with something in writing, if they can find another use for it. We are talking to people within the department, from the Department of Health and also if there are any non-government organizations interested in making use of that facility, we are open to offers. So we have put an offer out there, we haven’t heard anything back to date, so the offer is still there. So that is where it sits today.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled Community Driven Solutions: NWT Housing Corporation 2003-2004 Annual Report. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think that we have to clarify the notion. This is not subsidised housing like the government housing program in the past. This is market housing that was put forth as a business venture from the Housing Corporation. We are there to recoup the investment that we made by way of the rents that we would be charging. Also, another point I would like to make is that the rates that we are setting for these units are less than what we are charging to clients in social housing. So on one hand you are saying that we are charging too much, but on the other...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there was a call that went out to all agencies and different departments to see where there was a problem with regard to accommodating professionals in the different communities. The communities that were picked were Tulita, Fort Good Hope, Norman Wells, Lutselk'e, Fort Resolution, Fort Providence and Fort Liard. Those were the communities that seemed to have the most systemic problem of attracting teachers because of the problems with accommodations. Those are communities that were picked for the first round, and there were other communities identified...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that’s one of the reasons we have to complete this report, is because we did have some logistical problems by way of transportation, barging, looking at sites for these units, gravel was a problem in some communities, and power hookup. Because of the timing of this contract going out, we also weren’t able to meet the timelines that we were looking at. So it’s been moved ahead. With that, we are going to look at the overall project itself to see exactly the hiccups that we did have so we could avoid them in the future. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak to all Members about the Canadian Young Worker Memorial Life Quilt that will be unveiled today at 12:00 noon in the Great Hall.

The memorial life quilt, Mr. Speaker, pays tribute to those young workers involved in a workplace injury.

The quilt was created in 2003 for the Day of Mourning and was sewn together by volunteer quilters from across Canada. The quilt is a lasting memorial to 100 young workers aged 15 to 24, who were killed at work. At the same time, Mr. Speaker, it spreads a powerful message about the importance of accident...