MLAs approve Nunavut Housing Corp. capital budget
Independent review of allocation system and rent scale ordered
On Monday, Nov. 4, Patterk Netser, the minister responsible for the housing corporation announced that he has directed his officers to initiate an independent review of the NHC allocation system and rent scale. (File photo)
Updated 10:30 a.m. Nov. 6
Nunavut MLAs approved the Nunavut Housing Corp.’s $43-million capital budget for the upcoming fiscal year on Monday, Nov. 4.
This comes after a close vote two weeks ago to defer approval of the budget until more information could be provided as to the accuracy of the data that determines where the territory’s next social housing units will be built.
During Monday’s sitting, in response to MLAs’ concerns, Patterk Netser, the minister responsible for the housing corporation, announced that he has directed his officers to initiate an independent review of the allocation system and the rent scale.
“It’s very important to me … that we demonstrate that our government is transparent and accountable to community members and all Nunavummiut,“ said Netser.
Arviat North-Whale Cove MLA John Main, who initiated the deferral vote, responded by thanking the NHC for its commitment to initiating the independent review.
“I’m hopeful going forward that this will improve things,“ he said, adding “I would encourage the housing corporation to give that contractor or whoever it is, give them as much free rein as they need.”
The review will be limited to looking at the allocation system and the rent scale.
The current methodology for calculating which communities get housing has not changed, nor has the proposed budget of $43 million, both of which Main didn’t take issue with.
One of the key points of contention for Main and other MLAs during the earlier NHC capital budget discussion was the number of units being built in each community. As an example of potential inaccuracies, the members focused on Igloolik.
Initially, it was shown that the waitlist there went down by roughly 90 units between 2018 and 2019, a number that Main said he didn’t believe was accurate.
It turns out he was right.
Netser admitted that there were errors in the Nunavut Housing Corp.’s paperwork for Igloolik, causing the apparent change.
For this, Netser apologized to Paul Quassa, MLA for Aggu, who seconded the initial deferral vote, and clarified that for the 2019-20 fiscal year, the NHC will build 20 houses in Igloolik.
The mistake highlighted the need for accurate information, the main reason the initial vote was deferred, said Quassa.
“I’m sure that there are also errors done in the other communities,” he said.
“I look forward to seeing the capital deliberations next year, and that we will have accurate numbers.”
According to Netser, the independent review will start as soon as possible.
Correction
In an earlier version of this story, it was not clear who was responsible for the error that Netser admitted to. The story has been updated to make it clear, the error was on the part of the Nunavut Housing Corp.
This issue speaks to the competence and leadership at Nunavut Housing Corp.
Wait list information actually comes from the local housing organization primarily, but it is supposed to be vetted and confirmed by programs staff at the district office (for Igloolik, this would be Cape Dorset). I’ve heard that there are a ton of problems with the staff in the Cape Dorset office, but to blame this on all NHC leadership is just wrong.
As the Nunavut Legislature transcripts read the waitlist information from the community as in ( Local Housing Organization) was not matching the lower number NHC provided for the budget. In fact NHC numbers were reduced by 90%. As Mr. Nester appologized for a clerical error by NHC employees.
So.if it was determined that the mistake was made at a NHC level not the LHO why assume it was the Cape Dorset office or even the very top officials it could have been possibility just a missed key stroke by a typing assistant. Regardless we should be happy our MLAS are doing a great job of holding public bodies and government departments accountable to the peoples needs.
Does the government know how homes where bought last year? How many were sold? That help for the private homeowner is nonexistent if you do not qualify for programs.
Can we talk about all the empty units the GN is paying for while many are waiting for a home?
This has to be talked about some more, for so many years now these units have been empty all the while the GN is asking for more money from the feds and now wanting help from the Inuit organisations on housing.
I worked with the past District Director he was honorable his actions were honest, fair, and worthy of respect.
The Present Districted Director out of Cape Dorset said he was nothing like the past Director and he was going to do thing differently