Robert C. McLeod

Mr. Speaker, $6.1 million was the initial figure that we used. Once we go through all the planning, the number may rise. We would have to look at all the options and then come back to committee with what probably is closer to a final figure and share that with them, and then we will determine what the next steps are going to be once we do that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There had been a working group that had been established. MACA is part of the working group. Health and Social Services is part of a working group. We do have some assistant fire chiefs that are part of the working group. We are looking at the overall delivery of emergency services across the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The earliest that we would be able to have some dialogue on this – and this would give us the summer to do some work on this – I think would probably be this fall when all Members get back together again. So if that’s acceptable to the Members, then it’s something I will work in the department to see if we can have something put together to sit down with committee in the fall time. Thank you.

We have committed to zero until September 1st. On September 1st the $35, or half of what they would have initially been paying, will kick in.

In response to the Member’s question before, we have made contact with the NWT Senior’s Society. We have offered up a meeting. We got a response. Actually, it was this morning. They’re quite busy right now with summer coming on, so we’re going to try to make some time. But it is going to be zero until September 1st. September 1st until July 1st of next year they’ll be paying half. That will get them acclimatized to having to pay rent, because of not...

Mr. Speaker, we could have asked them to report once a year. That may not have been enough to satisfy some Members. We could have asked them to report 12 times a year. We thought for the first part, this would be a good starting point. If there are other options we can explore in the future such as less reporting once things get rolled out really good, then there may not be a need for further reporting. I am sure the communities will let us know that. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I wouldn’t say it is to keep tabs on the communities. I would call it work closely with the communities to ensure that public funds are spent the way they should be. It is more of a communication tool. We want to make sure that public funds are well looked after. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, we do keep tabs on the community spending. We work with communities. This here is just to see if this accountability framework is meeting their needs. Is it working for them? Is communication between the community and MACA? Are there ways we can improve? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Because we have given the communities a lot more responsibility and a lot more financing, the purpose of the accountability framework is to work closely with the communities to have a pretty transparent system of how that money is dealt with. Thank you.

If there are folks from the NWT Seniors’ Society who are listening to this broadcast, I would like the opportunity to come and meet with you.

Thank you. We’re going to use that two months to give them an opportunity to prepare for a change in their rent come September 1st. We’re also going to use it as an opportunity, as I responded before, to work with a lot of seniors that are in public housing and give them an indication of what their rent will be and what they can expect to pay in the future.