Housing Corp. minister takes blame for funding miscommunication

February 15, 2012

Yellowknife, N.W.T. - NWT Housing Corporation minister Robert C. McLeod is saying mea culpa when it comes to the Betty House funding issue.

Yellowknife Centre MLA Robert Hawkins had accused the Legislative Assembly cabinet of not properly consulting with regular members about the $2.6 million given to the project from the corporation.

Hawkins was told by Premier Bob McLeod that the money was from the federal government and was previously approved, but Hawkins said the government needs to do a better job of getting the point across.

"Discussion and debate are the pillars of democracy in this assembly, and I would ask, to the Premier, and to this House, is this going to be the tone of this particular government? When we get great project like this, are they just going to pass them through without committee consultation or are they going to ensure that they engage the membership on this particular side of the House?"

Robert C. McLeod said he dropped the ball and should have done a better job of communicating.

"I take full responsibility for that, and ensure that any projects coming through NWT Housing Corp. in the future will be consulted with the members like we normally do."

McLeod added a change in assemblies was probably the reason the funding announcement got lost in the shuffle.

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