Evidence of meeting #9 for Indigenous and Northern Affairs in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was funding.
A video is available from Parliament.
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
Jenica Atwin Liberal Fredericton, NB
Thank you very much.
Minister Chinna, would you like to add to that?
4:50 p.m.
Minister, Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, Government of the Northwest Territories
I'll try to be very quick. I will be cautious of the time.
What the housing corporation has done is to look into energy savings, the funding we're receiving, and the cost savings of that for the operation and maintenance.
One of the projects we have just finished involved looking at a biomass initiative for a 42-complex building area here in Yellowknife. We've also taken that into the smaller remote communities. We've just entered into a partnership with my colleague, the Minister of Infrastructure, looking at a biomass project in Aklavik. The biomass project will be incorporated with a school.
We're looking at different solutions and working together as a government to try to look at more of a cost-effective, efficient way to develop all programs within the territories, recognizing the cost of operation, maintenance and energy savings. That's all.
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
Jenica Atwin Liberal Fredericton, NB
Thank you so much.
Ms. Amaaq and to Ms. Idlout as well, thank you for speaking in your language. It's always a pleasure.
You mentioned the piece about having to disrupt the process of building, because obviously there are seasonal considerations. Would it be helpful perhaps for CMHC, the government or even the private sector to look into building a warehousing facility to build units in so you don't have to deal with the seasonal schedule per se?
4:50 p.m.
Chairperson, Igloolik Housing Association
[Witness spoke in Inuktitut, interpreted as follows:]
Were you directing this to me?
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
Jenica Atwin Liberal Fredericton, NB
Thank you.
Mr. Devereaux, do you want to comment on that piece as well?
Qujannamiik.
4:50 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Nunavut Housing Corporation
Thank you for the opportunity.
I totally agree. It's certainly something that we've looked at over the last number of years and, again, it will come back to my sort of harping on the need for increased investment to increase that build program.
If we were indeed able to build 250 to 300 units a year, then the business case for having a modular construction plant situated in various communities in Nunavut starts to make more sense. It's on our radar. We've been spending time over the last number of years with partners across the housing sector here in Nunavut looking at that opportunity, because it would drive employment in Nunavut, but it would also capture these crazy costs we have for having to bring materials in by sealift.
Nunavut, as you're aware, is 25 communities with no road system connection, so we rely 100% on a very short marine supply season to get our materials brought in. It's very expensive. I think it's something we are looking at, and I agree that it is a great idea. We need the volumes of units to support that business case.
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
4:55 p.m.
Bloc
Marilène Gill Bloc Manicouagan, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Will the lack of culturally and traditionally appropriate housing in first nations communities have an impact on the exodus of members from those communities to urban areas?
My question is for all the witnesses. Thank you.
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Marc Garneau
Minister Chinna, why don't you start us off. We have two and a half minutes for all three of you to respond.
4:55 p.m.
Minister, Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, Government of the Northwest Territories
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I will be very quick.
This has a significant impact, and looking at the people being removed or abandoning their community and the loss of culture, language and identity as well is quite a huge factor. It leads right into mental illness and looking at sustainability for the wellness of those communities as well.
4:55 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Nunavut Housing Corporation
I totally agree with Minister Chinna. The impacts of the housing crisis and not having enough affordable housing units for the demands and the needs of Nunavummiut is driving very negative social outcomes, as was mentioned. I do agree. It elevates the importance of our having to address this crisis. I think it's a good point.
4:55 p.m.
Bloc
Marilène Gill Bloc Manicouagan, QC
Thank you.
To your knowledge, are there any figures showing that people leave their communities for reasons other than studies, that is to say for housing reasons?
The question is for all the witnesses.
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Marc Garneau
Minister Chinna, are there such statistics about an exodus because of housing problems?
4:55 p.m.
Minister, Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, Government of the Northwest Territories
I don't have that information right at my fingertips, but then looking at the shortage of housing here in the Northwest Territories' 33 communities, we don't have homelessness initiatives in each of the communities. The largest centre is Yellowknife.
We often see people leaving their communities and relocating in Yellowknife, which becomes a homelessness issue as to how to address it and how to return the individuals back to the communities. With lack of housing, they're not able to return as quickly as they possibly can. Just know that, for housing in the smaller centres, the opportunity is in the larger centre.
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
4:55 p.m.
NDP
Lori Idlout NDP Nunavut, NU
[Member spoke in Inuktitut, interpreted as follows:]
Thank you.
I have a question for Raigili.
I'm trying to educate the MPs about northern issues and aboriginal and indigenous affairs. If funding was not a barrier, would Igloolik be prepared to build housing and conduct the repairs needed? You get labourers to come in and help to erect houses. They may come in to build 20 houses. Do you have Inuit who are working in housing and not able to work at housing?
5 p.m.
Chairperson, Igloolik Housing Association
[Witness spoke in Inuktitut, interpreted as follows:]
When it comes to renovating, we have a full-time person who does renovations, maintenance and repairs. The FCNQ was contracted to build 20 houses. While they were working on the labour, they stayed here and we asked that they complete the units, because there were too many people on the wait-list without houses.
The construction has begun and is not completed. There was not an issue.
5 p.m.
NDP
Lori Idlout NDP Nunavut, NU
[Member spoke in Inuktitut, interpreted as follows:]
How would you, in your own community, make improvements to reduce the lack of housing? If, for instance, we did not have to worry about funding.... Old homes have mould and need to be renovated. How would you best deal with those?
5 p.m.
Chairperson, Igloolik Housing Association
[Witness spoke in Inuktitut, interpreted as follows:]
For instance, plumbers, electricians and maintenance workers do not get staff housing, so they are not able to come here to be employed by housing. Only the maintenance manager and the housing manager are provided housing for their jobs. We put the furnace men and other people who are involved into public housing, because their employer does not provide housing. If, for instance, our furnace were to freeze in the winter, somebody has to.... We can have Arctic College work with us to work on apprenticeship programs locally to address housing repairs, renovations, furnaces.
The other thing to address is staff housing for housing employees. Only the manager and another person get housing with the job.
5 p.m.
Liberal