Public Housing Accountability in Nunavut: A proposed framework for investigation

1. Public Housing Accountability in Nunavut: A proposed framework for investigation Author: Ron Baker University of Guelph Discussant: Janet Mack Queensland University of Technology

2. Purpose of the Paper • To develop a theoretically informed investigative framework for examining the system of accountability for the construction, allocation and maintenance of public housing in Nunavut.

3. Motivation • Criticisms and concerns around the management, affordability and condition of social housing • 2009 – Auditor General noted monitoring deficiencies by the Housing Commission with repect to the delivery of public housing services • 2011 – 63% of housing was either overcrowded or in need of major repair • 2012 – construction cost overruns

4. Theoretical Framework • Accountability and Accounting • Identifies various definitions of accountability • Laughlin’s 1990 model • Adapted • Effects of western-based accounting and accountability mechanisms on Indigenous peoples • Expanded definition of accounting

7. Theoretical Framework • Public Accountability • Bovens (2007), Romzek (2000), Aucoin and Heintzman (2000) • 3 purposes • Control • Assurance • Continuous improvement

8. Theoretical Framework • Governmentality and Governance • Foucault • Role of accounting – communication • “Accountability arrangement is the medium through which government programs can be made operable and by which the population becomes knowable”

9. Public Housing in Nunavut • Managed by Nunavut Housing Corporation (50% of all housing in Nunavut) • NHC is a crown corporation • One of its responsibilities is to ‘provide education training and support to Local Housing Organisations in the areas of administration, finance program delivery and maintenance’

10. Public Housing in Nunavut • LHOs are independent organisations • partner with the NHC to deliver public housing programmes • Independently audited

11. Auditor General Report 2008 • Allocation process for housing units not followed consistently by LHOs • Inspection of housing units and their condition ratings not being monitores by the NHC • NHC did not receive regular reports from LHOs and did not appear to monitor them.

15. Suggestions • While the purpose of the paper was clearly stated and the problem of public housing in Nunavut was identified – there was no clear indication of how the two related. • I wondered whether a closer connection between the application of western-based accountability (including mechanisms) and indigenous peoples might be useful – particularly in the discussion.

16. Suggestions • The discussion and conclusions need to be more comprehensively framed in terms of both the literature and the theory • The paper identifies a weakness in the accountability systems that is the potential cause of the issues surrounding the delivery of public housing but does not fully develop this idea.

17. Suggestions • I thought this was a really interesting paper • Addressed a practical problem from a theoretical perspective • Addressed an issue that is relevant internationally