February 16, 2012 - Mr. Speaker, I rise today to provide an update on the Shelter Policy Review which began during the last Legislative Assembly and is now almost finished. The Shelter Policy Review was a broad based examination of housing in the Northwest Territories and was intended to provide a long-term strategic framework for housing.

Improving housing conditions is one of the key priorities of the 17^th Legislative Assembly, and completing and implementing the Shelter Policy Review was identified as a key component of advancing this priority.

The Shelter Policy Review included broad based engagement with Northerners on housing; an independent evaluation of the existing homeownership programs; a rent scale review for the public housing program; an analysis of other elements of the housing continuum; and a review of best practices elsewhere.

I want to thank all Northerners that provided their input through the engagement on the Shelter Policy Review. The participation of so many residents is appreciated and I know there were many good discussions. I want to make clear that the voice of Northerners and their concerns about the future of housing have been heard.

The work on the Shelter Policy Review has led to the development of a broad strategic framework, Building for the Future, which includes specific strategic priorities and actions that will guide the GNWT approach to housing over the next number of years.

Mr. Speaker, we are all aware that housing involves a range of issues and the strategic plan we will be releasing will address all the various aspects of the housing continuum. The key strategic priorities for housing that are identified in Building for the Future include:

• Strengthening Public Housing


• Improving Homeownership Supports


• Increasing Housing Options in Non-Market Communities


• Improving Housing Services


• Strengthening the Approach to Homelessness and Transition Housing


• Addressing Housing Challenges for the Working Poor


• Developing Infrastructure Solutions Based on Individual and Community Needs


• Addressing the Declining Federal Funding

Each of these strategic priorities has a number of actions associated with them. Our approach will be to build on the successes and progress over the last several years; to strengthen self-reliance and support for residents to meet their own shelter needs; and to recognize the difference between market and non-market communities in designing Northern solutions.

While it will take a number of years to implement all of the elements of Building for the Future, residents can expect to see some immediate action on housing. In 2012-13 we plan to take the following steps.

• We will implement new public housing rent scales to a simpler, more predictable and fairer system that helps address the disincentive to work.  This new rent scale means that all tenants of public housing, including seniors, will be charged a fair rental rate that recognizes their economic and life circumstances.


• We will make changes to the current homeownership repair programs to improve accessibility which will help reduce housing quality problems, particularly in
  non-market communities.


• We will invest in a new emergency repair program to help lower income homeowners address emergency situations like freeze-ups, furnace problems or emergency plumbing situations before problems get worse.


• We will begin to address housing supply issues by expanding housing options in non-market and emerging market communities, with a particular focus on housing for critical staff.


• We will develop and invest in a rent supplement program that will target the working poor and address affordability problems for those in market rentals.


• And, as announced last week, we will finalize arrangements for a $2.3 million contribution to the Betty House initiative in Yellowknife to provide transitional housing for women.

As noted, new rent scales for public housing in the Northwest Territories are currently being finalized. The rent scales for public housing have long been identified as critically important with residents clearly telling us that they want a simple, predictable and fair rent scale that addresses the problem of the disincentive to work. The new rent scales will be a major change for many tenants and we are planning considerable communication activities leading up to the planned July 1, 2012 implementation.

In designing the new rent scales we were conscious of the need to address the concerns that residents have expressed about the role that public housing rents have played in creating barriers to residents wanting to improve their own and their family’s well-being. We were also very aware of the declining funding from the federal government to operate the public housing program and the need to have a system of public housing that is sustainable in the future.

Mr. Speaker, we have provided the final draft of the strategic plan and proposed new rents scales to the Standing Committee on Social Programs for their review and comment as a follow-up to the previous presentations we have provided on the work related to the Shelter Policy Review. It is our intention, upon completion of the consultation with the Standing Committee on Social Programs, to release this material publically prior to the next Session. The release of the strategic plan and the implementation of identified actions are the first steps in advancing the collective priority of the 17^th Legislative Assembly to improve housing conditions. I look forward to working with all Members and Committee as we continue to work on our priorities.

Thank you.