Robert C. McLeod

It is our intent to implement all the changes as per the shelter policy review on July 1st of this year and that includes seniors’ rent.

As I said, we feel like we’ve consulted adequately and if we were to delay it as per the wishes of some Members across the NWT, I don’t think too much would change. Therefore, I don’t see much need to delay the implementation and take this out again.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased to recognize a constituent of mine and mayor of the Town of Inuvik, Mr. Denny Rodgers. Welcome.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We look at it on an individual basis and see where the money would be best put. In Aklavik’s case, I know a couple of years ago they had used some money to fix up a lot of their roads in town. One of the things that we’ve just recently done during our meetings with other Ministers of emergency measures from across the country is Canada’s rolling out a Disaster Mitigation Program which would go towards mitigating situations such as the ones that we’re facing in Aklavik. If there’s an opportunity there to access some of the money – they’re still working out the details...

Again, Mr. Speaker, I say we will look at it on an individual basis and if there is a lot of flooding in some of the communities, we have to look at it on an individual basis and see where we can best assist the communities.

The communities themselves are well prepared to deal with a lot of emergencies that come their way. I think 29 of the communities have emergency plans put in place, so as far as the financial part of it, again, we’ll have to look at it on a case-by-case basis and see – going back to the Disaster Mitigation Program – how that rolls out as there may be opportunity for some...

Thank you. I can understand the Member. He’s listening, obviously, to his constituents, and we didn’t expect this to be a very popular move, but it’s one that we felt needed to be made. There will be some adjustments.

Mr. Speaker, I don’t have the numbers broken down as per region. However, I can gather that information and share it with the Member. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Before I start my Member’s statement, I want to use this opportunity to wish my uncle Abel Tingmiak happy birthday. Abel is in his 60s and he’s still flying around on the blanket toss.

Spring carnivals are just around the corner. Up in the Beaufort-Delta we’re very fortunate that we’ve got four or five communities that are very closely linked and we’re able to travel between the communities to take part in the carnivals up there. We have the carnival in Tsiigehtchic, and the Peel River Jamboree in Fort McPherson, the Mad Trapper Rendezvous in Aklavik, the Beluga Jamboree...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document, titled “A Legacy for the North: Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Annual Report, 2008-2009.”

Mr. Speaker, this has been a discussion that has been going on for a number of years. Seniors have been very fortunate in the past where they have had to pay no rent. It is still costing the Housing Corporation an average $16,000 to $24,000 a year to maintain these units. The thinking behind it is during the engagement process there were a lot of seniors that had expressed a willingness and they don’t mind paying their fair share. There are some that were reluctant to phone for maintenance services because they don’t pay any rent. Some of this was brought on by the seniors themselves. The fact...