Nunavut Housing Corp. minister announces plan to clean 52 units of mould
More than 150 units have been cleaned in 14 communities since 2016
Lorne Kusugak, the minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corp., says people who find mould in their homes should contact their local housing corp. office right away. (Photo by Mélanie Ritchot)
The Government of Nunavut is planning to tackle mould problems in 52 housing units across 11 communities over the next fiscal year.
Lorne Kusugak, the minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation, made the announcement Thursday in the legislature.
“This is the largest number of units that we have done in a single year since we began these extensive remediation efforts in 2016,” he said.
He added that 152 units have been cleaned in 14 communities since 2016 and this year’s project will represent a 33 per cent increase on the amount of remediated units.
Mould has long been a problem in the housing corporation’s stock of units. In summer 2020, former Nunavut MP Mumilaaq Qaqqaq toured housing across the territory in an effort to raise awareness of the issue.
While the GN has committed to the mould cleanup, Kusugak emphasized that preventing mould from growing is the cheapest and best method of ensuring it doesn’t become a problem. He added anyone who sees mould should call their local housing organization.
“Don’t delay, do it today,” he said.
Dear Mr. Kusugak , it’s been 4 years since you promised to put us on full time work which never happened . What changed that ? and why ? Beginning to think it’s because I’m female which I personally apologize for . upset CGS employee .
What about fixing the condemned units? So many units are boarded up due to minor fires and damage that have been vacant for years. Send in some contractors they can fix these units in a week or two and it would cost a fraction of the cost of a new unit.
The Kitikmeot Regional office for NHC remediated mould in over 100 homes in 1.5 years from 2019 to 2020 in just their region alone. Maybe it’s time to shut down the Directorate office in Iqaluit and let the Regional Offices run the show, because the people in the Directorate office do nothing but collect massive salaries and organize meetings to plan to do nothing substantial to solve any of the problems.
What we really need is another report showing that public housing units are overcrowded, moldy and in disrepair. It has already been two years since Qaqqaq did her last tour of the Territory to tell us what we already knew, so the data might be outdated. Hopefully Lori is up to the task.
Nailed it.
“More than 150 units have been cleaned in 14 communities since 2016”
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That calculates to one mold-remediation per community per year; watch out boys, we’re on a roll now
I’m happy to hear those issues are being taken care of. Slow process, but the work is being done. An updated report would be nice to see. New units being built nowadays seem to reflect southern weather and does not meet the needs of Nunavumiut. The structure of the house it self anyways.
Homeowners pays a lot for fuel people who are retired and not working who are also homeowers, what policies are for paying house fuel. To pay to a family business for house fuel and better management should be worked on, for those taking control of fueling homeowners.
52 units to be remediated of mould over the next year. 53 other units will be found to have mould.
Lorne addressing things. where the source is actually very smart lets see you follow through . 15 years ago the Nunavut Housing Corp and CHEO did a study on houses throughout Nunavut on respiratory issues . It found. inequitably that the houses needed air exchangers. Lets see a real Nunavut company do the work . Spend the money and install proper ventilation and you can actually do something pro active. That would actually be amazing as all your predecessors just keep throwing money at it like gas on a fire by thinking remediation is the answer. Education and ventilation is what is needed. Otherwise the problem gets bigger.
These units that cost nearly a million each to build two bedroom units, shows you that the quality of these units after a couple years start getting mold is not to the building standards but still get approved.
These units are build very fast, 3-4 months, is the companies taking short cuts? Who approves the work that is being done and who inspects the work?