GN leasing “uninhabitable” houses from Kevin O’Brien

The department of Community and Government Services continues to lease four rental units from former Arviat MLA Kevin O’Brien, even though three of those units are “uninhabitable,” Monday’s question period in the legislative assembly has revealed.

Iqaluit Centre MLA Hunter Tootoo asked the minister of Community and Government Services, Peter Kilabuk, about the vacant staff houses.

Kilabuk said that one government lease covered three rental units that were uninhabitable, and that he had put in a request to O’Brien to have them upgraded and renovated. One other lease was for a unit that is in good condition.

“It is not uncommon to continue paying for leases or units that are not occuppied for different reasons,” Kilabuk told the assembly. “We are right now… looking at our options as to whether future payments should be made on those units.”

Kilabuk said that he did not have the dates for when the houses became uninhabitable, but that the houses had been inspected and approved before they were rented. He promised to get back to the assembly with copies of the condition ratings of the units when the leases were signed.