Robert C. McLeod

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Those that find they need to replace their fuel tanks or pilings would be able to, if they qualify, access money through CARE, the home repair program.

We’re always looking at ways that we can improve the delivery of our program. We have allocated, in the past number of years, a large amount of resources to the communities. I can stand here and quote some numbers from the Member’s constituency where one particular community received $4.7 million since 2007. Another community got about the same amount. We try and distribute the resources that we have equally. We’ve been fortunate in the last number of years with the federal investment. We’ve been able to allocate more resources. With that money being sunsetted we’re back to our historical...

It’s obvious that there has been some concern with the fuel tanks and, more specifically, the wood pilings. As far as public education, I would have to follow up and see what’s out there. This has been a longstanding issue, the pilings in particular, so folks out there are well aware of some of the challenges they face. The fuel tank issue is just a new one that’s been out for a bit here. There’s still a process that has to go on where we need to educate the public and make them aware of some of the challenges they face with the fuel tanks.

We all have seniors in our ridings that would like to access some of the programs. Some of our seniors get turned down because of the income. If the particular person has exhausted all the programs that we have to offer, then there would be no need for repairs in this particular case. I’m pretty sure in this particular case we’re able to assist the senior and that again goes to show that even though they’ve exhausted all the programs that we have to offer and the money that comes with it, we’re still willing to assist a senior that needed our help.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The territorial government puts a lot of money into the care of our seniors and their homes. We have a preventative maintenance program that’s very well subscribed so that allows seniors to have work done on their units. Also through the CARE program, seniors that qualify can receive up to $90,000 in assistance to do the work in their homes and seniors usually are priority with the NWT Housing Corporation.

Thank you. Obviously there are a lot of questions we could ask about any issue debated in this house. This was one issue where all the proper processes were followed in accordance with disposal of Commissioner’s land. I’m not sure what the Member is talking about, the Town wanting to see the lease. I’d have to follow up on that and see if there’s been a request for the Town to view the lease. I know the lease was just signed recently. So I’ll follow up with that and see if there was ever a request to have a look at the lease. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. They had originally intended to purchase the property but it worked out in the end where it was decided that it was a lease, so it is a lease. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, the better news is the LHOs are not going chasing after these people. These folks are actually coming into the LHO office and they are verifying their income and they’re getting reassessments done. People have taken it upon themselves to come into the LHOs, which is really encouraging, and if the LHOs find that there’s somebody that they need to see, well, obviously, they’ll contact them and tell them they need to come in. So the communication is there, but we do have clients that are coming into the LHOs and getting reassessments done and in some cases it’s working out for them...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We’ve been very encouraged by the number of people that have been coming into the LHOs to get reassessments. The percentages of people that are coming in are improving each time. We have made some progress is writing off what is perceived to be artificial arrears, and as long as they come and verify their income... In one particular case a person came in and verified all their income for a period of that time and left the LHO owing zero arrears. We do note that is helping some people and we’ll continue. Once I get the updated numbers, I’ll provide them to the Members.

I will commit to the Member that we will have a look at how land is disposed of. Again I just want to assure the Member and Members of this House that this land was all disposed of in accordance with and all the proper processes were followed. They had expressed an interest, they got a hold of us, we worked with them and a deal was worked out. Though some people may not like the decision, that’s just the way this whole thing played out and the Norman Wells Land Corporation has some development plans for the future to benefit their people and if there’s an opportunity there for us to help them...