Malcolm Gorrill
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Sep 07/01) - Inuvik Twin Lakes MLA Roger Allen said progress was made at a recent Ontario meeting of federal, territorial and provincial ministers responsible for housing.

MLA Roger Allen

Allen said the territories and provinces urged Ottawa to relax the rules on its proposed affordable housing program, which was announced last September. The program currently allows for a cap of $12,500 to go towards new construction or renovations.

Allen said the GNWT wants to be able to raise the cap to 25 per cent of the cost of construction, due to high construction costs here.

"If this level of funding increases," Allen said, "then we have the ability to support the construction of more units across the Northwest Territories.

"Currently we're not allowed to do that."

Allen said federal housing minister Alfonso Gagliano seems willing to consider allowing provinces and territories more control over how to administer the program.

"What we've managed to do is begin a dialogue," Allen said.

"We will be going back in November to follow up and see what kind of progress we have made."