Tom Beaulieu

Maybe that’s supported lease. I think an orientation program is very important when clients are signing documents. I know of a case recently where an elder did not sign documents and at the end of the day that person was one signature away from the family owning a house because the elder passed away without signing the document. However, my question for the Minister is when signing documents -- this is now just if the individuals get approval -- is there a guarantee that the individuals understand? Is there any way that the corporation guarantees that individuals understand what they’re...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to ask some questions to the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation. This time of the year the NWT Housing Corporation has application deadlines for homeownership programs. Depending on which community, these deadlines may vary. In many cases residents are not fully aware of the deadlines. My question is in regard to a communication strategy. Can the Minister tell this House if the Housing Corporation has a communications strategy for its homeownership program in the application phase?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as indicated in the Minister of Education’s Minister’s statement, aboriginal language…March is Aboriginal Language Month. I am going to…I can’t read the language, Chipewyan language. I am trying to learn. Hopefully that will be a goal of mine, to try to be able to read the aboriginal language next March.

---Applause

So right now what I am doing is a difficult task that we ask the translators to do. I have a Member’s statement written in English and I am going to try to translate it into Chipewyan. [English translation not provided]

Mr. Speaker, I seek...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that consideration of Tabled Document 17-16(3), Supplementary Appropriation No. 3, 2008-2009, be now concluded and that the Tabled Document 17-16(3) be reported and recommended as ready for further consideration in formal session through the form of an appropriation bill.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

The reason I am asking is I am trying to do some sort of comparison what it’s costing the department to do the highway maintenance directly and what it’s costing to do highway maintenance to a contract, specifically around Fort Resolution with Nuni (Ye) Construction. My understanding is that the contract is a fairly good contract and it’s set up in a way that you have to have machinery working in order to maximize the contract. An example that I’ve been advised of is that if it’s not snowing and in the wintertime and the machinery isn’t moving or it’s not snowing heavily, then the contract...

Thank you. I believe that is correct at this time. I’m thinking of the future. At some point I have a plan which includes dust suppression for the entire community, so maybe this department along with the municipality or the band, First Nations, when they become the municipal body they would look at chipsealing the entire community. I think there’s approximately four kilometres of road that covers all of Lutselk’e, possibly less than four kilometres. If they’re going to somehow increase the market viability of their community as far as market housing and other benefits to having good...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just a quick question on airports as well. I was wondering if the department have any plans for an extension and chipsealing of the airstrip in Lutselk’e.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the Tu Nedhe communities, the need, the core need -- just going from memory here -- but probably 40 to 50 percent. In Tu Nedhe there are 300 households. So we’re talking about 120 households split between two regional offices: North Slave for Lutselk’e and South Slave for Hay River. My question is, can the Minister tell me if the program staff is able to go door to door for everybody in need in Tu Nedhe during the application phase?

Many of my constituents speak aboriginal languages and aboriginal languages are their first language. They’re not familiar with some of the legal and technical terminology, even things like inspections, applications, leases. My question is, can the Minister tell me what extra efforts, if any, the NWT Housing Corporation staff do to address that very important component of the client relations?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.