SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The territorial government appears set to move forward with the construction of 40 housing units for RCMP officers across the territory.
That follows an announcement last month that the federal government is getting out of the business of supplying housing for the Mounties.
Kam Lake MLA Kieron Testart is questioning why the NWT Housing Corporation is taking over responsibility for RCMP housing when the federal department of public works has deemed the practice to be no longer cost-effective.
He also pointed out that the government intends to do this during a time of proposed fiscal restraint. Caroline Cochrane, the minister responsible for the Housing Corp. explained the move during question period on Tuesday.
"The federal government is actually getting out of the provision of housing for RCMP officers effective April 1, so we don't have a lot of time to work on this. Their reasoning is that they don't want to do the retrofitting to the current housing that they're in," she said, adding that the Housing Corp. is not looking at taking on the housing currently under the federal government.
She said building new housing is a better option than renovating the current homes, and is of the understanding that the RCMP would pay 100 per cent of the market value of the new homes.
Cochrane insisted that the RCMP housing units will not take funding away from other much-needed social housing projects.
"We're still in negotiations with (the Department of) Justice and the federal government. Once we decide upon it, we would be putting in a request to the Financial Management Board. The money, actually, will not take away from social housing at all," said Cochrane. "In fact, it will help to provide social housing. Within the next 15 years - 2032 in fact - (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp.) CMHC is expected to delete all of their funding for social housing, so we need to look at revenue sources to be able to continue to provide social housing and this is one method."
Green honours gay pioneer
Her voice choked with emotion, Yellowknife Centre MLA Julie Green praised a now-passed NWT mine worker who was jailed in the 1960s for having consensual sex with men. The federal government recently announced its intentions to pardon Everett Klippert who worked at Pine Point near Hay River.
Klippertadmitted to having consensual sexual relations with four men in 1965 and wasconvicted of gross indecency. He was jailed indefinitely and declared a dangerous sexual offender. Klippert was eventually released from prison in 1971and died in his hometown of Calgary in 1971.
Standing in the legislative assembly during members' statement, Green said Klippert's case shows that the country has come a long way on gay rights.
"I am proud to be the first woman married to a woman elected to this legislature," Green said. "All of this started with Everett Klippert. I am grateful to him for being the catalyst of these changes and join in congratulating the Government of Canada in righting this historic wrong."
Vanthuyne calls for immigration strategy
Yellowknife North MLA Cory Vanthuyne is calling for a made-in-the-North immigration policy which he said could help the territorial government's goal of increasing the NWT's population and promote economic development.
On Wednesday, he inquired into the status of the NWT Nominee Program which would identify and fast track opportunities for immigration. The program was to have been implemented last April. Education, Culture and Employment Minister Alfred Moses replied that immigration initiatives have been delayed.
"We have had success moving forward but the department, I'll have to say, is currently developing an immigration framework which will provide an integrated approach to implementing and monitoring long-term objectives of the Nominee Program, while also supporting territorial population growth," he said. "The framework will be developed with extensive consultation with all stakeholders. We do have the labour market review that's coming out, as well as our Skills 4 Success Initiative that's going to help drive us to see what needs we have throughout the Northwest Territories."
Moses said that there were 106 nominees and their dependents approved under the program last year and 460 since 2009. Moses said the government expects 60 nominees this year.
