Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (Aug 24/05) - The federal housing minister would like to see a homegrown solution to many of Nunavut's housing woes.

Minister Joe Fontana stopped in Rankin Inlet, Whale Cove and Chesterfield Inlet during a brief tour of the Kivalliq this past week.

The minister also held discussions with Nunavut Housing Minister Olayuk Akesuk in Iqaluit.

Fontana said it's imperative all levels of government do the proper research to provide answers as to why a homegrown housing solution can't be developed in the North.

Better yet, said the minister, the research should be done to show how such an industry can exist.

"Why is it we can't build a lot more of the component parts for housing right here, as opposed to having to worry about the shipping season and the associated costs," said Fontana.

"Surely there is a creative way of being able to look strategically at how the North can build its own housing?

"Instead of just shipping material, it's important for us to ensure the research, skills development and entrepreneurial opportunities are all part of our overall plan."

Get act together

Fontana said the government also has to look at the way it procures housing and labour to ensure it's being done effectively.

He said any obstacles to building more housing and allowing more people to be involved in the industry must be identified and overcome.

"I don't like to talk about things forever and ever when we need to get on with building houses.

"We can continue work to double the number of existing housing units until we figure out exactly how we're going to get to the end of the game, which is 10 years and $1.9 billion later.

"There's no reason we should be missing opportunities during the shipping season.

"I get frustrated when I hear we're not going to be doing much because we couldn't get our act together, collectively."

Extra benefits

Fontana said housing is just as much about good health care, economic, social and environmental policy as it is about building homes.

He said Ottawa is receptive to his pitch that numerous departments benefit from a solid housing program.

"Housing is also about looking after the people who live inside those homes.

"I was told of 17 people living in the same house as their elders.

"I can't imagine having 17 grand kids running around a one or two-bedroom house, and that's why housing so greatly impacts other areas.

"The need is incredible in Nunavut because of the overcrowding that exists.

"We all know simply building two new units a year isn't going to do it."

Key components

Fontana said the 10-year, $1.9-billion plan to address Nunavut housing is a good one, but effective ways to implement it still have to be developed.

He said two key components to addressing housing in the North are to have all three levels of governments involved, and to have hamlets develop their own community housing plan.

Such plans would show how many new units are needed, suggest improvements through renovations and examine existing infrastructure which could be converted into housing.

"I have heard land leases and development costs on a per-lot basis might be so high that it's part of the reason why you can't build as many units here.

"This is why you have to look at all the components of housing costs, be those land issues, taxation, infrastructure, construction costs or a lack of skills.

"These are all reasons why we're opening a Northern office of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. which will focus strictly on Northern housing issues."

Reaching goals

Fontana said the new Northern office, coupled with a tripartite approach of federal, territorial and municipal governments will help ensure housing goals are reached.

"And that includes the community, not-for-profit organizations and the private sector, all with the view of wanting to do something.

"I was told in Rankin there are a number of units sitting empty because they're reserved for government employees or belong to a different department and that's a prime example of why a community has to develop its own plan and implement it.

"That's how we'll get things done on a community-by-community basis."