MLAs review findings of report outlining shortfalls in public housing, Nunavut 3000

Nunavut Housing Corp. president and CEO Eiryn Devereaux says he’s committed to better transparency and implementing improvements, following a report from Canada’s auditor general on shortcomings in public housing in the territory.

Devereaux, deputy auditor general Andrew Hayes and executives from the Nunavut Housing Corp. and NCC Investment Group Inc. appeared Thursday before the Nunavut legislature’s government oversight committee.

The committee is examining the findings of the auditor general’s report, tabled in the legislature in May.

It outlined problems with public housing in Nunavut, including poor maintenance, challenges the government faces in meeting its goal to build 3,000 new housing units by 2030, and a failure to provide “equitable” housing for Nunavummiut.

Deputy auditor general Andrew Hayes speaks to MLAs Thursday afternoon. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)

“It is critical for the government to take action and ensure Nunavummiut have access to suitable and adequate public housing, giving priority to those with the greatest need,” Hayes said in his opening remarks.

Devereaux, in his opening remarks, said the housing corporation welcomes the report and accepts its 10 recommendations, which include improving collaboration and communication with local housing authorities and more transparency on progress being made in construction.

“I want to begin by reaffirming [the Nunavut Housing Corp.’s] strong commitment to transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement,” he said.

The logistical challenges of providing public housing in the territory, progress the corporation has made in resolving “systemic” administrative and management issues, and some of the corporation’s Nunavut 3000 builds so far, he said.

“While we respect the work of the auditor general, we believe the audit captures only part of this story,” Devereaux said.

“The transformation of Nunavut’s housing system is underway and future audits will better reflect the depth of this change.”

A recurring topic was that some issues with public housing identified in a 2008 auditor general’s report were similar to ones cited in this year’s report.

That report by then-auditor general Sheila Fraser similarly cited problems with Nunavut Housing Corp.’s management, preventive maintenance programs, housing allocation and construction.

“I think the delivery of the public housing program will always be dififcult and challenging,” Devereaux said, stating he wasn’t with the housing corporation in 2008.

“Hopefully, through [an audit report], both Nunavut Housing Corporation and [local housing organizations] are moving in a favourable direction to try to improve upon that, to try to achieve that sort of perfect scenario.”

Hayes said at some point there will likely be a followup to this year’s report. Devereaux said he hopes it will show the progress being made.

“I think coming out of this audit report, we’ve reviewed the findings, worked to develop an action plan that was time-bound and specific that hopefully addresses a lot of the key observations,” he said.

“I’m sure the office of the auditor general will do a followup in the coming year or two to help measure progress toward some of the recommendations.”

Questions continued late into Thursday afternoon and are expected to continue Friday.