Wendy Bisaro

Thanks, Mr. Chair, and thanks to the Minister and his staff. I’m okay with the costs that have been outlined in general. I was just wondering which buildings, particularly the new school in Inuvik, and Mr. Lewis has advised that that’s included in this budget, so that’s a good thing. I don’t need that list. Maybe, Mr. Chair, you can confirm whether or not other Members wish to see that list, but I’m okay without receiving more information at this point.

I did want to ask a question, though. The description of asset management talks about inspection services. I know that it is certainly...

One of the other things that was in the letter that I received in March, further to my February questions, was that the Department of Education, within negotiations with the NWT Teachers’ Association, would bring this issue to the table. I would like to ask the Minister whether or not, now that the negotiations have been concluded with the NWTTA, there was any decision made during negotiations whether or not there is an implementation plan as he’s referenced in his letter?

Yes. From 1,400 to 300, that’s a good thing. My other question has to do with other expenses the travel has been reduced significantly from $103,000 down to $15,000. Was this an anomaly in 2011-2012? I note that in 2010-2011 it was only $20,000 as well. Why the difference? Why the huge reduction?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the Minister, I’m glad he’s going to get back to me with information. I would like to ask the Minister if he would commit – although there are no plans at this point – to developing some plans to look into the issue of rent controls, and as I mentioned in my statement, find a solution other than rent controls if rent controls isn’t the way to go.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Question here with regard to pay and benefits. A number of years ago we had quite a backlog. Staff were hired to get rid of the backlog. I’d like to just get an update as to where things sit now with our pay and benefits. Are we up to date, so to speak? I realize that there’s probably always some stuff that needs doing, but does the Minister feel that the department is on track and getting things processed in a timely manner?

Thanks to the Minister. I do agree with the fact that there are as many opinions for as there are against rent controls, but I have to disagree with the Minister that the government is taking the position that there’s no intent at this point to look at the Residential Tenancies Act.

I’d like to get a little information from the Minister on what tenants can do if there’s a huge increase or if there’s a major increase one year and then for the next three years running. Can the Minister tell me what process exists, what avenue exists for tenants to deal with what they consider as an unjustified...

Just to follow up, I can appreciate that it’s been a relatively short period of time since you’ve, sort of, started to implement the policy, but can the Minister tell me when they will do an evaluation and whether or not Members can get the results of that evaluation?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Residential Tenancies Act of the Northwest Territories was first enacted about 25 years ago, in 1987. It was modelled on legislation that was in effect across Canada at that time. It’s been amended over the years since, but only on a piecemeal basis. There are three areas of the act in particular which require some amendments: rent increases, the lack of power in the rental officer position, and coverage in the act for residents in transitional housing. Today I want to talk about rent controls.

The Residential Tenancies Act does not currently control the amount by...

I’d love to pin the Minister down to a specific time and date, but I appreciate the answer. Thank you very much. I look forward to the interim document in six months’ time. I think that’s going to be something which is needed and I think it will be much appreciated by our employees.

The other couple of questions I wanted to ask are around persons with disabilities and duty to accommodate and so on. The department has recently done a survey of persons with disabilities. I haven’t seen anything that indicates that that survey is done or that there have been any results from that survey. I wonder...

Thank you, Madam Chair. My question has been asked and answered.