Tom Beaulieu

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, my next question was on -- the deputy had just answered was to talk about the land use plan for the NWT Metis Nation, but I would not ask the question because he already provided me the answer. That is all I have for now, Mr. Chair. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I didn't hear if the Minister said it wasn't reasonable or it is reasonable, but if he said it is reasonable, of course I have to disagree. We have elders in the community and, fortunately, they get the seniors relief, tax relief, so in this particular situation or this type of situation it's 50 per cent. So an elder whose income is Old Age Security, which is approximately $1,000 a month, is asked to pay $2,000 after their tax relief is applied, $2,000, so that's two months' worth of income for that elder. So is the Minister telling me that it's reasonable for people...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I didn't think it was appropriate for me to ask the deputy. I wonder if the deputy minister can give us the same type of detailed response on the land use plans for the Akaitcho land use plan. Thank you

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, so I just want to make sure I understand this clearly.

So the requirement for the individual tenant who is at a certain income level and is purchasing a public housing unit then will take over the operations of the public housing unit almost immediately at the point of sale. So $22,000 is no longer needed by the NWT Housing Corporation to put in to the LHOs because that's the operating cost of the unit, and, in addition to that, that tenant has a requirement to go to the bank and pay their portion. By "their portion" I mean the portion that's not applied...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, just back on the rent scale, did I hear correctly that the rent scale is now maxed out at 14.5 per cent? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, to the sale of public housing, also on page 353, I would like to ask the Minister if the Minister actually had a target on the amount of public housing they wish to divest in this coming year.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, housing is a very, very big issue in my riding. Housing is a very big issue across the NWT. One of the things that I have talked a bit to the Minister about, recognizing that the Minister is currently gathering data, maybe to make good decisions moving forward on what is really needed in the communities.

What I think is really lacking in the NWT Housing Corporation is a good plan by per community. The NWT Housing Corporation at one time had quite a few programs. I think the number is like 18 or 14 programs comes to mind, and it was reduced in many of the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister if there was a possibility that some independent expert could look at what the issue is currently and, if it is proven that had the dam not been there this unnatural phenomena of the ice breaking up in the middle of winter would occur, and would the Power Corporation consider compensation? Thank you.

It appears that the Power Corporation is not taking responsibility for flooding the Taltson dam, and I know that there is some question on, I guess, the hydrology around that. It would appear that is what the issue is, from the Aboriginal people. I would like to know how the Power Corporation will communicate any future issue where, this time around, it appears as though the water levels were unusually high and, for some reason or other, it got higher in the middle of winter? How would the Power Corporation consult with the people using the Taltson River at this time in the future?

Mr. Chairman, I move that the chair rise and report progress.