EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
We had this problem for a very long time and I would like to know why nothing was done about it.
We apologize it had to happen in Repulse the way the member is explaining.
We understand that there was a problem with the pump.
The Member is very correct in that.
Also there was confusion over the problem. I am pleased to say that it is been corrected and rectified and hopefully it will never happen again.
I would like to thank the Minister because this was very inconvenient for us and the people in Rankin Inlet, the Petroleum Products Division in Rankin Inlet, have to be considerate about the problems that we relay to them, that there is a problem. And if you can perhaps relay that message to the people in Petroleum Products Division in Rankin.
We are on page J-18. (interpretation ends) Tangible Assets. Kivalliq Region.
Total Kivalliq Region. $2,700,000.
Chairman: Total Tangible Assets. $4,520,000.
Chairman: J-4.
Community and Government Services. Department Summary.
Detailed Expenses.
Total Capital Expenses. $21,697,000.
Chairman: Are we agreed that Community and Government Services is concluded?
Chairman: Thank you, Minister and staff.
And I would like to thank the Members of the Committee as well as my staff for assisting me as a new minister for this department.
They have a lot of patience and I’d like to thank them and I would like to thank you Mr. Chairman.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Akoak and Mr. Rich.
At this time before we begin with the continuation of the other departments we will break for 5 minutes.
>>House Recessed at 17:05 and resumed at 17:15
Chairman: We have a quorum.
I would now like to ask the Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation to make his opening remarks.
Bill 1 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2006-07 – Nunavut Housing Corporation – Consideration in Committee
In response to the suggestions of our stakeholders we have made several improvements to our corporation’s capital plans for 2006-07 and beyond, with an appropriation from the Government of Nunavut of $20,588,000 and additional confirmed funding from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation of $4,580,000.
The total capital for 2006-07 so far is $25,168,000.
Also we are having discussions with the federal government regarding incremental funding for housing. I hope to rise in the House before the end of this session and announce additional funding for next year and beyond.
Although this is never guaranteed I am very hopeful that the contribution for housing in Nunavut will occur.
Improvements we have made in our capital plans highlights:
First, a Material Assistance Program styled after the popular Homeownership Assistance Program. The new program will assist Nunavummiut to become homeowners.
We will make sure that clients who are ready to accept the responsibility of homeownership are given that chance, while ensuring the construction of a well built, energy efficient home.
Second, a Senior and Disabled Homeowner Maintenance Program to ensure that our elderly and disabled homeowners will have the necessary preventative maintenance tasks performed on their units.
As well, a small amount will be made available to provide for some demand maintenance.
Third, an additional $1 million for the Home Repair Program.
Fourth, funding for the replacement of units sold through the Tenant to Owner Program.
Finally, increased support to our Local Housing Organizations through Mobile Equipment Funding.
These changes bring the model in line with the Government of Nunavut standards for mobile equipment. As well, the model has been updated for current vehicle and freight costs.
Both staff and public housing will be built in 2006.
A critical part of our new staff housing policy is to make sure we can properly house staff in our communities.
About 20 Public housing units will be built with GN funds. As I mentioned earlier, I am hopeful for additional federal funding and when this occurs I may also request additional funds from the GN.
Funding will continue as usual for the modernization and improvement of both public and staff housing as well as the Fire Damage Replacement Fund.
Mr. Chairman and committee members, thank you for the opportunity to meet with you today.
I look forward to a meaningful discussion and we will be pleased to hear your comments and to answer any questions you may have.
Thank you, very much, Mr. Chairman.
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk: Yes, I do. I guess we’ll hear the comments from the Chairman as we sit in the witness table?
Chairman: Does this committee agree to bring in the witnesses?
Chairman: Thank you. Sergeant-at-Arms, could you please escort the witness here.
For the record minister, please introduce your witnesses.
On my right is Peter Scott, the President of the Nunavut Housing Corporation and on my left is Abraham Tagalik, Vice President of the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
Welcome to the Witness Table, Mr. Scott and Mr. Tagalik.
Does the Chair of the Standing Committee have comments?
As Chairman of the Standing Committee on Infrastructure, Housing, and Economic Development, I am pleased to be able to provide opening comments as we begin the review of the 2006-07 capital estimates for the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
Mr. Chairman, the standing committee had the opportunity to meet with the Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation in September to review the draft 2006-07 capital estimates.
Committee members are pleased by the minister’s efforts to respond fully to member’s concerns and requests for detailed program-specific information.
(interpretation ends) Committee members are pleased that the minister has responded positively to the repeated recommendations of the committee by introducing the new Material Assistance Program.
Members look forward to the possible expansion of this program as public awareness and interest increases.
Committee members also look forward to reviewing the success of this program after the first houses are constructed.
Mr. Chairman, members were pleased to note that tenants are beginning to take advantage of the Tenant to Owner Program and purchase their units.
Members remain concerned that insufficient funds are being allocated to programs for existing homeowners, such as the Home Repair Program.
In the past, this committee has noted that the cost of purchasing a home in Nunavut, while high, is not the primary barrier to homeownership.
The costs of operating and maintaining a home can be staggering and this can act as a disincentive to homeownership.
Recognizing the significant costs related to homeownership in Nunavut, committee members urge the minister to allocate more funds to such programs as an additional incentive to homeownership.
Mr. Chairman, members remain concerned that local housing organizations are not playing as much of a role as they could be in reviewing applications that are made under the corporation’s homeownership programs.
Members recognize that the LHOs have limited resources and encourage the minister, in his efforts, to expand both the role and the funding for LHOs in delivering housing programs.
Mr. Chairman, members recognize also that the GN’s Staff Housing Policy has recently changed and remain concerned that GN staff, in some communities, are living in substandard housing with few options for private accommodations.
Qualified and committed nurses and teachers are critical to the health and wellness of our communities.
Members noted that new staff housing units will be built in Whale Cove and Chesterfield Inlet in 2006-07.
Members urge the minister to keep in mind that there are few private rental options, especially in the non-decentralized communities, and to continue replacing staff housing units to ensure that those positions remain filled.
Mr. Chairman, members were discouraged to note that only $5 million has been allocated for public housing in 2006-07. This represents only 20 new units. Twenty new units will not make a dent in the need for housing in even one community.
Members remain concerned that non-competitive bidding may be occurring in some communities and is artificially driving up the cost of constructing public housing. In the past, construction of units in some communities was delayed because all of the bids received were too high.
Committee members urge the minister to explore all options to ensure that units are built on schedule and within budget, including having the local housing association taking part in construction and review possibilities of expanding the use of public, private partnership.
Mr. Chairman, members know that the number of recent ITK announcements focus on housing and raise concerns that federal funding for housing in Nunavut will continue to be extremely limited. Members were further concerned to note that the 2005 Nunavut Economic Outlook states that, quote, “The initial response to the 10 year Inuit housing panel from the Federal Government was not positive, stating the project was too ambitious”, unquote.
The standing committee is frustrated and disappointed that the Federal Government has not announced a new funding agreement for housing in Nunavut. Members ask that the minister be candid and open with all regular members with respect to the status of negotiations with the federal government, rather than having members learn such disheartening news from other sources.
That concludes my comments on the 2006-07 capital estimates for Nunavut Housing Corporation. Mr. Chairman, individual members may wish to raise questions or make comments as we proceed.
Mat’naluavik.
Before we proceed I would like to remind members of the following: according to Rule 77(1), you have 10 minutes to speak, and according to Rule 77(2), subject to the discretion of the Chair, a member may speak more than once to the matter under discussion but not until every member who wishes to speak has spoken.
I suggest to members that wherever possible, you ask your detailed question during the page-by-page review of the departmental estimates. Do members have any general comments on Housing Corporation?
Mr. Barnabas (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Minister, Mr. Tagalik and Mr. Scott, welcome.
The chairman of the committee already mentioned these comments that I’ll be making in regard to inadequate housing in Nunavut communities.
I’m happy to say that the minister made an announcement that one of my constituents will be one of the communities that will be allotted some housing.
For those people who own their own homes, they are elderly and they can’t speak English.
Those are the people that don’t have anyone to do home improvements in their houses, especially in the smaller communities. And, they don’t know which southern place to order their materials from.
For the Local Housing Organizations, they don’t have any opportunities to talk with the local housing authority as well. There’s an individual that is from the minister’s riding that is a person who helps out the people with their own homes.
There are a lot of elders that don’t speak English that would like to be able to talk with the local housing authority.
There’s also a problem with the re-supply that is late or delayed in bringing materials.
There’s also a rule whereby they have to have insurance.
Sometimes it’s not adequate that the Housing Corporation does not ship materials on time and that creates a problem because there’s only a certain amount of time that they can build houses.
There are old houses that need renovations and some of them were built back in 1945 and in 1970s because I have seen some in Arviat and in my community and other communities in Nunavut.
Those old houses, like there are old houses, such as old matchbox houses that usually get renovated. The foundation is rotten at times.
When they do renovations, they usually spend an amount of $300,000. I know there’s a lack of housing in most Nunavut communities, but if they are going to use $300,000 to renovate an old house, I think they have to destroy those old houses that were build years ago and replace it with a new one because it will probably cost a lot cheaper.
I’m going to be asking questions later on when we go through page-by-page of the Nunavut Housing Corporation. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Do members have any comments on the Housing Corporation?
I thank the minister and his officials for coming today.
I was very disheartened, I have to say, when I read the 2005 Economic Outlook, which I think most members have read and I am sure most government officials have read because the authors have spent a considerable amount of time reviewing the housing situation up here.
I think they had presented some very hard, cold facts made with statements that were very revealing, in terms of the fact that there’s a critical shortage of housing here in Nunavut.
Every community has housing issues Cambridge Bay is no different than Iqaluit, or Clyde River, or Arctic Bay, or any other community, but we have tremendous overcrowding in Cambridge Bay. I think there are 50 to 60 people on the waiting list over there. I’m sure that it’s probably as high or higher elsewhere in Nunavut.
We read in the newspapers all of the time, I think this week, I heard this considerable discussion about the alcohol and drug situation in Nunavut. I think a shortage of housing and overcrowded housing contributes to a lot of that.
The Kitikmeot Inuit Association’s annual general meeting was held last month in Cambridge Bay and I just recently received a copy of the resolutions and the elders from the Kitikmeot passed their resolutions. They are directing or asking the Government of Nunavut and the Government of Canada to address the housing crisis in Nunavut because they feel that it’s contributing to the breakdown of the social fabric in our communities.
You get, two, and three, four generations of families living on top of each other, with each other, in very small houses.
I’m not sure how, well I know... I don’t have the answers, none of us have the answers here, and I know you guys put together with Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., The Nunavut Ten Year Inuit Housing Action Plan.
Our chairman said, mentioned in his opening comments that it didn’t get a very favourable response in Ottawa. I’m going to be very interested during the section when we start asking questions. I’ll ask you some questions about exactly why the situation in Ottawa, why it seems like our requests for help up here are falling on deaf ears.
It can’t continue because we have serious problems up here. Our future as a territory is in peril if we don’t have housing. You talk about all the other good things; economy, putting people to work, all that good stuff, but if we don’t have houses for them to live in, it’s going to set us back and it’s going to continue to affect our health, the wealth and prosperity of our citizens.
We can talk about putting people to work and that people will be able to buy houses but the reality is; to buy a house in Nunavut is beyond the means of most people. You need $300,000 to $400,000 to $500,000 to buy a decent sized house and then you’d be into the bank for 20, 25 years.
And, on top of all that, you still have to meet your basic daily needs to buy food, fuel, and all the other costs associated with raising a family. So, I don’t think it’s something that every family in Nunavut has the option of buying their own house.
I think it was two years ago where the housing corporation said it costs $225 per square foot to build a house and then I think it was last year where the number increased to $330 a square foot.
So, the costs are continuing to go up. So, for citizens, or residents to build their own houses, I think it’s almost impossible. It’s beyond their reach.
So if that’s the case, then we as a government and the federal government have to look at ways, and seriously, not keep talking about it. We have to get down to the brass tacks here and recognize that there is a crisis in Nunavut.
I know I read in news releases and press releases from ITK. The government response to the Inuit housing crisis is utterly lamentable. Another one; the Government Proposes Creation of More Red Tape.
So, they’re doing their bit down in Ottawa.
I’ve got a few more headlines here. Another one here, press release: Photos Illustrate Inuit Housing Crisis. So the story is out there.
I just don’t know where it’s being heard, if it’s being heard.
I know the minister invited the federal minister, Fontana, to Nunavut last spring. I think it was May, or sometime in the last five or six months.
So, I’d be interested in hearing what he expressed to you first hand, when he was able to visit some of the communities and see what we have in terms of housing in our communities.
One of the best ways to open the eyes of officials in Ottawa, ministers and MPs is to invite them up here, take them to a couple of communities and give them a tour of some of the houses and show them first hand what we’re facing here.
I’m hoping that you can tell us that he had his eyes open wide and that they’re doing something in Ottawa to help us.
I know the Premier and some of your other colleagues have been hard at work over the last couple of years as well trying to talk to the federal officials to seek some help.
I don’t think its fair of the federal government to expect Nunavut, on its own, to work their way out of this.
The reality is you can only put $5 million towards public housing and that’s 20 houses when you need 2,000 right now just to meet current needs. That’s like plugging dikes.
That’s not going to do the job.
We owe it to our citizens to really tackle this problem and bare down. I know our standing committee is looking at throwing our weight behind us as well.
I think the chairman will be speaking about that later during our session.
Do any of the members have any general comments on the Housing Corporation?
We will now proceed to the page-by-page review of the department estimates, starting with the page L-6.
Mr. Netser (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) Fire Damage. Nunavut Various. $1 million, (interpretation) which community is it referring to?
These are for future fire damage replacements. We currently or have already have work done on the fire damage replacements.
We don’t know how much damage there will be, but this is more like a contingency fund.
So, it doesn’t apply to the previous fire damaged buildings?
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): The units that have been damaged, we have to have a clear indication of how much it would be approximately to replace those buildings in case there were more fire damaged units, but the fire damage replacements, we have to have a clear understanding as to how much it was.
So, that’s what it’s there for.
Mr. Netser: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation) That $1 million, it seems like they are expecting to buy fire damaged units. (interpretation ends) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): This funding is always there as $1 million and in the past it was always like that but if it was increased then we would spend more because we don’t know how many units we will lose due to fire.
But this is more like just in case, it would be very ideal if we didn’t have any fire-damaged units.
In the past, it has always been like that. So, that’s why it’s like that.
Mr. Netser: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation) About the Tenant to Owner Program.
That $1 million, how would that be spent under the tenant to owner program?
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Tenant to Owner Program, it give them an option to buy the unit that they’re in to own, so they can’t exchange with other tenants just because they’re interested in buying that unit.
It’s for that program. So, that’s how it is at this time.
Maybe in 2005 it might become clearer as to how many units are being bought by the tenants from that program.
Mr. Netser (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The tenants, if they are interested in buying the unit, then can he or she can dip into that $1 million to renovate it? So, they can access that $1 million?
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): Yes, that $1 million is if somebody purchases, for example, if you happen to buy the unit you’re in, which is owned by the housing corporation, then that $1 million is available or is there in order for us to construct another unit to replace that unit that was bought by the tenant so we’ll have more available.
You stated that I would have to be a tenant in order to buy the home. Or, is it possible to buy a unit if you’re not a tenant?
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): Under the homeownership program, there is also some support to increase the number of homeowners, which is, in this case, the Tenant to Ownership Program.
That was all I had.
Page L-6, Nunavut Housing Corporation, information item.
To follow up on the issue that was brought up by my colleague, the Tenant to Owner Program has $1 million in it. How does it actually work?
There are some individuals who buy the older type models and they also buy those suspended basements that were owned by the government. Is that what this $1 million is used for?
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. If you were to buy a house that you’re renting, we would have to build a new house in order to replace the unit that you bought.
If you buy a unit, the new homeowner is usually burdened with the renovations that have to take place.
For example, they might have to jack up the house, or to replace the insulation that has rotted.
This $1 million is divvied up.
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): If Mr. Barnabas was to buy a house that he is renting, and if this unit was less than ten years old, the government would then build a new unit the following year to replace that house.
There is a program that is called the Home Repair Program, which will have another $1 million in it.
They could apply for that pot of money in order to renovate the house that they just bought.
Mr. Barnabas (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Is this information made available to the tenants who buy their unit, because they use their own pocket to renovate their homes?
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): I am sure that the member is aware that quite a while ago we put together a brochure on which programs are available from the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
We try to make sure that the information is made available to the general public in Nunavut.
We try to make sure that all information is available to everyone out there.
Mr. Barnabas (interpretation): I’ll leave it at that.
I’ll have other questions later on.
Mr. Alagalak: Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
I just wanted to make it clear in this program, but I am hearing a little different, the way the set up was in the Kivalliq I think.
But, understanding that fire damage replacement is $1 million, whenever a house is burnt, you use this to replace it.
But, on the Material Assistance Program, my understanding of these, for the whole of Nunavut, is that this program is used for the retrofit of the homeowner, for those houses damaged by age, or well-used homeowner’s resident. I assume that this is the program.
Also, the Tenant to Owner Program, in my understanding, the homeowner, or the person proposing to purchase a house from somebody, regardless of who owns the house, is given assistance according to their income, of up to $25 thousand.
I thought that this $1 million was for that purpose.
But according to Minister Akesuk’s statement, it is a little different, that I have never heard before.
It is being replaced by the one being bought by the Housing Association. I’ve never really had experience with that one.
I wonder if he could explain it further with the component that I’ve talked about.
The Material Assistance Program is new. It’s like a HAP house, like buying a HAP house. Like if you wanted to buy material, and that is what it’s going to build; a new house for a certain person that applies for the Material Assistance Program.
So, that’s new.