Robert C. McLeod

The Member has been very diligent in bringing concerns of his constituents forward. Unfortunately, some of the decisions that are made are ones that he wasn’t aware of or because of one reason or another, folks were declined for some of the programs.

We have done a number of things to try and get as many people qualified for programs as possible. I think we have one affordable housing unit left in Detah and our desire would have been to find a suitable client to put into that unit. Failing that, as we did in some of the other communities, we have actually turned it into a public housing unit.

T...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Part of the formula funding review was to make some adjustment, because we had found that some of the smaller communities had just about all the infrastructure they need at the moment. Some of their biggest challenges, I think, was the O and M on some of the infrastructure they have. So I think we’ve allowed them to use I think it was up to 10 percent of their CPI funding to help with the O and M.

On the larger centres, part of the formula funding review, again, was to go on a needs-based assessment. We recognize that some of the larger centres are facing more pressures...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It’s actually the Centre for Northern Families and it’s the whole building that’s going to be upgraded.

We had originally intended to start this work I think early in the life of the 18th Assembly, but we fast-tracked it and did the formula funding review work before the end of this Assembly. Once the 18th Assembly comes into being, they will have to have a look at the fiscal situation. If there are opportunities to increase the money to the communities, then the Minister of the day will have to bring that forward and try to get the funds increased. So, the work has already been completed, Mr. Chair.

Not at this point. As we plan as we go forward here, we’ll have to look at each community and their needs going forward. We did, I think, have a couple of duplexes or triplexes that were planned for Fort Simpson, but because of the situation there, we’re trying to find ways we can get that product on the ground. As far as immediate future, it’s not in the plan right now, but again, as we go forward and as the 18th Assembly goes forward then they’ll start identifying some of their needs in the communities.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. To my left I have Mr. Tom Williams, deputy minister of MACA; and to my right, Ms. Eleanor Young, who is the assistant deputy minister of MACA.

Mr. Chair, I believe we just signed it off today, the breakdown, and we will provide it to all the Members.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That’s a direction that we’re going in the future. If you notice, a lot of communities there are a lot of detached, very large houses, and as we’re taking those out of stock we’re going to more of a multi-unit type of configuration. I think we have up to 68 percent of our units that we have now are multi-unit type of configuration. We find there are many benefits to that. We find that we’re needing smaller units now instead of the big five-bedroom Webers we used to have. So, that’s the direction the Housing Corporation is taking in the future and there’s a trickle-down...

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. With me I have to my right, Mr. Mark Warren, deputy minister of Lands; and to my left, Brenda Hilderman. She is the director of corporate services.

Yes, we’ll continue to work with the groups that are involved and see if there are some ways that we can be a part of the process. Thank you.