Sandy Lee

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Could the Premier make a commitment to this House that he would talk to the federal Minister of Labour in order to ascertain that they're paying close attention to this issue, and to see what are the options that the government has to ask them to mediate or whatever federal process there is? I'd like to know if he could report to the House about what his options are in that regard. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understand that this is within the jurisdiction of the federal Minister of Labour, but there are times when the federal Minister of Labour would intervene, appoint mediators or arbitrators, and the Premier is stating that this is premature. I don't know; I think that this has gone on for a very long time. I think we could even say that the two parties are very far apart. Could the Premier just say what is giving him an indication, what is the bar or the timeline or the landmark that he's looking to see when he thinks that it's time for him or this government to do...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to speak about my latest thoughts on the work of the Housing Corporation. First of all, let me, Mr. Speaker, commend the Minister of Housing on the latest affordable housing initiative in which we’ll see a $100 million investment and 50/50 percent cost share arrangement with the federal government that will see 530 new homes in the Territories, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

It’s also very good to see that the Housing Corporation is working with MACA and I can assure both Ministers that they will have my full support in this regard. Mr. Speaker, I also...

Once again, Mr. Speaker, I am really trying to shorten my question. I have not heard an advantage. I think my question is very clear, Mr. Speaker. Under Affordable Housing Strategy, we are spending $100 million and it will get us 530 units. Under the Novel housing strategy, we are going to spend $220 million plus to buy used units, clean up the yard for Imperial Oil, and we are going to end up with 830. Where is the math? Mr. Minister has not answered that question. It is pretty straightforward, especially when he has a whole person working in his office doing nothing but answering...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister of the Housing Corporation in regards to the latest update on the ATCO Novel housing product. Mr. Speaker, we have just got the information that the size of this project has reduced quite a bit, from 1,400 housing units to about 830.

Mr. Speaker, let me just start by saying once again that I believe that ATCO Novel is a good product. It is a clever idea. It is a company that could stand on its own. The issue here is whether or not this government and this territory and people of the Territories are getting enough...

Once again, Mr. Speaker, I am really trying to shorten my question. I have not heard an advantage. I think my question is very clear, Mr. Speaker. Under Affordable Housing Strategy, we are spending $100 million and it will get us 530 units. Under the Novel housing strategy, we are going to spend $220 million plus to buy used units, clean up the yard for Imperial Oil, and we are going to end up with 830. Where is the math? Mr. Minister has not answered that question. It is pretty straightforward, especially when he has a whole person working in his office doing nothing but answering...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister of the Housing Corporation in regards to the latest update on the ATCO Novel housing product. Mr. Speaker, we have just got the information that the size of this project has reduced quite a bit, from 1,400 housing units to about 830.

Mr. Speaker, let me just start by saying once again that I believe that ATCO Novel is a good product. It is a clever idea. It is a company that could stand on its own. The issue here is whether or not this government and this territory and people of the Territories are getting enough...

Mr. Speaker, I believe the difference is that we are paying for the premium to buy the cleanup of the yard for $28 million. We are paying project management costs in $20 million that we are not under the Affordable Housing Strategy. We are spending $21 million on financing and contingency. We are paying way extra under Novel than buying brand new manufactured homes or any other home. I would suggest to the Minister that he does his homework over again and this project is way far away from being done. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Let me just get really simple on this. What I am hearing from the Minister is that instead of this government getting advantage and getting a better deal by buying these used workforce housing, we are actually paying more. The Minister is saying that we have to do what Novel wants, which is that they want individual lots instead of its restricting our options of going multi lots which could reduce costs. I would like to know why it is that we have to pay $28 million in premium for buying this Novel trailer and paying $71 million to convert, and yet we end up with...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to speak about my latest thoughts on the work of the Housing Corporation. First of all, let me, Mr. Speaker, commend the Minister of Housing on the latest affordable housing initiative in which we’ll see a $100 million investment and 50/50 percent cost share arrangement with the federal government that will see 530 new homes in the Territories, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

It’s also very good to see that the Housing Corporation is working with MACA and I can assure both Ministers that they will have my full support in this regard. Mr. Speaker, I also...