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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
MMF mulls lawsuit over housing contract
THE Manitoba Métis Federation is outraged the Selinger government has unilaterally terminated its property-management agreement to manage 640 public-housing units in rural, northern and remote Manitoba communities.
MMF president David Chartrand said by pulling out of a 1995 agreement to manage rural and native housing units, about 100 people will be put out of work.
"It would be different if we did something wrong, if we didn't produce well," Chartrand said. "We're cheap. We're cheaper than government. There's no rhyme of reason other than the bureaucratic challenge that we face."
Chartrand said he wants an explanation from Housing Minister Kerri Irvin-Ross and will press Premier Greg Selinger for an answer when Canada's premiers and aboriginal leaders meet in Halifax July 25.
Failing a satisfactory response, Chartrand said the MMF will take the province to court.
The MMF found out about the province's intentions via a July 4 letter from Housing and Community Development deputy minister Joy Cramer. Cramer said the province wants a new property-management agreement with the MMF to reduce "fragmented" property-management responsibilities.
"Our existing 1995 contract is outdated, but we have been unsuccessful in achieving agreement on a new contract," a government spokeswoman said. "We continue to be interested in a relationship with MMF in the development of affordable housing."
In 2009, the MMF and the province signed a $4.3-million deal to upgrade aging Manitoba Housing units in the north. Of the 63 units identified, four have been completed, 34 are partially completed and no work or payments by government have been made on the remaining 25.
Chartrand said the impasse between the MMF and the province appears to be one of conflicting philosophies on how the program should operate, as the government wants more authority over what renovation work is done.
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition July 12, 2012 A6
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