Arctic housing : problems and prospects

This thesis examines the problems involved in delivering government sponsored housing programs to a remote region of the country, the area north of the treeline in the Northwest Territories referred to as the Arctic. The development of government involvement in Arctic housing is traced from an historical perspective in order to gain some insight into how the Arctic housing delivery process has evolved. The current housing situation is examined according to three categories: housing supply, liveability and affordability. The applicability of existing government sponsored housing programs as vehicles for Arctic housing delivery is assessed according to criteria developed from the analysis of existing housing conditions. It is found that the current Arctic housing delivery process and the housing environment produced is a barrier to community development and a burden on the economy. Public housing appears to be the only program capable of functioning in the region. Yet, the public housing produced is found to be unsuited to the climatic conditions of the region and the lifestyle of its indigenous inhabitants, the Inuit. By examining the evolution of the Arctic housing environment and the performance of the institutions and actors responsible for the housing delivery process, an Arctic housing policy framework is proposed based upon community development principles. The proposed Arctic housing strategy plan recommends a restructuring of the institutional arrangements such that key resources in the housing delivery process; manual and managerial skills, materials and equipment, residential land development, and operating and capital funding be accessible at the local level. The success of this proposed scheme will depend upon local initiative and capabilities in responding to their own housing needs and as well upon the commitment of the central authority to act as a facilitator in providing an institutional environment conducive to the effective delivery of housing at the local level. The devolution of decision-making in the housing delivery process to the local level prepares for a smooth transition of housing services. For, if a Nunavut Territory as envisioned by the Inuit is established, the responsibility for housing services would fall within its jurisdiction.Applied Science, Faculty ofCommunity and Regional Planning (SCARP), School ofGraduat