Tom Beaulieu

The last area I’d like to talk about in the needs survey is the area of groups. I’m wondering if the corporation has put more resources into evaluating or assessing the needs survey in the sense that you’re putting seniors, couples, singles, and families of three or more in the family, if the Housing Corporation has done that type of grouping from the 2010 needs survey. I’m wondering if that grouping has happened since the needs survey document was presented to the House.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to ask questions on the needs survey on this page. I don’t know where else or what other area. I know it’s in programs, but I thought this would be an okay spot under the corporate summary to ask about the needs survey.

Mr. Chairman, I’m wondering if the Minister could provide some detail on the needs survey, and by that I’m referring to some sort of work plan I suppose as a result of the needs survey, because I want to see if there’s an intention to not use the numbers. I know that if we’re just using numbers, the greatest need by number would be Yellowknife...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Committee wishes to continue the review of Tabled Document 133-16(5), NWT Main Estimates, 2011-12, and today we’re going to start with the Housing Corporation, and if we get through the Housing Corporation we may be ready for opening remarks for Municipal and Community Affairs.

I’d like to ask the Minister if the government has done what’s referred to as a 360 evaluation to determine all the benefits that could be accrued by raising employment rates in the small communities.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement I again spoke about employment rates in small communities. To get a feel for whether or not this topic is on the government radar, I’d like to ask the Minister of ECE if there is any dialogue between departments specifically on the low employment rates in the small communities.

I cannot lay out what the Employment Strategy could consist of, but I feel that the very first step to providing much needed employment and income into the small communities is a strategy for the betterment of the entire NWT.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]

Mr. Speaker, time and time again I have asked about the issue of very low employment rates in Tu Nedhe. In other words, Mr. Speaker, I’m talking about people in Tu Nedhe that do not have work. Mr. Speaker, I have drawn comparisons to the larger communities in the NWT which have employment rates twice that of the small communities.

Mr. Speaker, if this government does not develop an employment strategy for smaller communities, things will not change. Employment development in the smaller communities will not impact the larger...

That’s it for questioning on this page.

Staying with the needs survey, I’m wondering if the Minister is looking at the need incidences, and by that I’m referring to affordability, adequacy and suitability. I’m assuming that we address suitability by adding bedrooms. By adding bedrooms I mean adding units. I’m assuming we address adequacy by fixing houses. I’m assuming we fix affordability by providing affordable housing. So I’m wondering if the needs survey document or this corporation is using its own needs survey document to ensure that they’re addressing suitability issues with the appropriate resources and adequacy issues with...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think my biggest concern now for the future of social housing is the CMHC declining fund. To me, it doesn’t appear as though the federal government... Basically from their position on their stance seems to be that they are into providing short-term stimulus-type money or short-term affordable housing strategy types of money because they seem to get a better bang for that buck than they would to continue long-term investment in housing. It is long-term investment in housing, I think, is something that has been in place. It was agreed to some time ago that the federal...