Julie Green

What I understand is the alternative to the electronic access to the CRA is to present the paper copy of the tax filing to the local housing authority and they will calculate the rent on that basis. That is my understanding. If the Minister could confirm that and also say that this is an option that could be followed at any LHO in the NWT?

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I appreciate that answer. I am wondering how the message about these program changes is being communicated to seniors. Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation. My statement outlined the recommendations of the Privacy Commissioner in the matter of the privacy of income information complaint on behalf of public housing tenants. The ruling called on the Housing Corporation and its LHOs to amend its practices to provide for an alternative to giving the information directly to the CRA. First of all, can the Minister tell us whether she has accepted the findings of the Information and Privacy Commissioner? Mahsi.

Thank you. The witness may have, in part, answered my next question, which is why the uptake is so low. Is it the Housing Corporation's understanding that the copay is the only reason, or are there other reasons as well? Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in November 2016 the NWT Information and Privacy Commissioner received a complaint about the way the NWT Housing Corporation was collecting personal income to calculate rents for public housing tenants. The complaint was about a new policy making tenants give housing authorities permission to collect income and other information directly from the Canada Revenue Agency. Some tenants didn't want to provide direct access to their tax records. They asked for alternatives, such as continuing to report income on the basis of submitted documents. They were told there...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, during the business plan review, we talked about the possibility of making the NWT Housing Corporation's website better populated with current information and easier to use. Is there money in this budget for that activity? Thank you.

Thank you for that clarification. My next question is about energy use. Are any of the NWT Housing Corporation units heated with electricity? Thank you.

Mr. Chair, the Yellowknife Housing Authority has this surplus in order to meet the housing needs of Yellowknifers. Can the Minister guarantee that money that is taken away from the Yellowknife Housing Authority will be spent in Yellowknife? Thank you.

That's good news. When is that going to happen? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. With respect to the current situation, which is making the cut, do I understand correctly that 2 per cent is going to be cut from every LHO, whether the LHO has a $10 surplus or $1 million surplus? Thank you.