Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Thank you. Will the Minister explain why elders living on pensions or retired fixed income who are behind on payments cannot have their arrears forgiven?

Thank you. If the district office was situated in Behchoko or in one of the Tlicho region, we can really access their services. So can the Minister explain what happens to elders, especially those elders who are living on fixed income who are in arrears with Housing NWT, what happens to those elders when their files are handed over to the rental officer? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I talked about a motion that was passed on March 8th, 2023, for the government to stop garnishing elders and Indian residential school survivors' pension to pay for arrears. My first questions, Housing NWT collection policy states any tenant whose rent is overdue by two months should be filed with the rental officer for an order to pay arrears. Can the Minister explain the process Housing NWT follows when an elder on a fixed income has fallen into arrears? Thank you.

Thank you. It's good that, you know, for them to review that. Okay, can the Minister commit to transferring North Slave housing office from Yellowknife that specifically deals with Tlicho communities to provide better services to people, especially the elders who are faced with many challenges. And I've said this many times. Thank you.

What I said is right now what the housing is doing is that Housing NWT repairs program requires seniors to contribute 10 percent of repair costs, which is $1,000, if they are making $59,000 or more. So what I'm telling the Minister is that would the Minister commit to reviewing the income threshold for the repair program?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister adjust the income threshold for seniors' fuel subsidy program based on higher costs of living for elders in small or remote communities?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this is for ECE Minister. Mr. Speaker, residents tell me in the especially in the small communities I went to Wekweeti about two weeks ago. So it's not just them, but there are others, elders, that have been saying this too, that residents the home heating subsidy is not enough support for many of them in the small communities. So I just wanted to ask the Minister, can the Minister commit to reevaluate the monthly home heating subsidy for elders to assess whether the subsidies is meeting their needs?

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Housing NWT's 2015 collection policy posted on their website states garnishment is used for collections. This contradicts their response. If Housing NWT believes garnishment is outside their legislated authority, why is it included in their policy? Is this instead in reference specifically to garnishing pensions? What exactly is Housing NWT garnishing for retired elders with arrears?

The government ends their response with Housing NWT will continue to regularly review all arrears accounts and make every effort to assist our mortgage clients and tenants in addressing their...

I don't have any more questions, but from but I will sit and meet with the Minister on the fuel subsidy program for elders.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the questions for the answer. Okay, well, then I've been hearing from a lot of residents out there, especially the elders. If there was an increase, I don't think they are I don't know when. Can the Minister tell us when this is going to take effect? When's this change is going to take place? Like, is it the next fiscal year, or did it already happen? Because the residents in small communities are saying the fuel subsidies that they are receiving right now is not enough. It's not enough. It's not going a long ways. It's some of them said the fuel that we get...