Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, given that seniors currently receive a $1,000 monthly income deduction when calculating rent, what is preventing the GNWT from going further and eliminating rent entirely for seniors in public housing? Mr. Speaker, I am serious about this question; I don't want no chuckle. Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Monfwi. Minister of Housing NWT.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm just thinking about the question, Mr. Speaker, and how can we eliminate rent for seniors in the Northwest Territories? Understanding the situation we're in for Housing NWT, we have about $13 million in rental arrears across the North. That's the situation right now. And in order to build new homes and maintain what we have, people need to pay their rent. Understanding many times elders are taking on the burden of the entire family, there is considerations and that a $1,000 rental reduction each month, based on their income, is what's provided to elders at this time. There's a lot of work that we have to do as Housing NWT, especially with our strategic renewal and looking, moving forward with compromise agreements. But, again, these are the discussions we need to have, and these are the questions that are asked by the Members. So, at this time I don't have a solution, but I just want to give this House an idea of how much rental arrears across the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Some of the arrears are from old housing policy. Mr. Speaker, how does the GNWT ensure that the current rate calculation formula based on household income over age 19 fairly reflects the financial realities of seniors, many of whom live on fixed incomes and face rising costs for essentials? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again rent is based on income, so this is gross income of the household so it's not only the elder or senior in the house, it's the entire household, the working income or the income of the household. So there's sometimes difficulty with seniors because they take the burden on, again, of the entire household and don't get the support from other working members of the household. So again, another difficult situation. But Housing NWT right now is reviewing the rental scale, and we hope to have more comments from Members of this House. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister for Housing NWT. Final supplementary. Member for Monfwi.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister commit to a review, she said she is, but of the public housing program to explore rent-free option for seniors, especially in light of growing concerns about affordability and aging in place. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The rental scale, we're undergoing a review right now. One thing I have asked Housing NWT is to include some work by researchers that have done a lot of analysis from housing and housing in the North. So working with like poverty specialists, working with people that have done many PhD dissertations to add their recommendations to Housing NWT. So it's not only housing that's looking at it but we're trying to do a fulsome review that recognizes the challenges and realities in the North. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister for Housing NWT. Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife Centre.
