Caroline Cochrane

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to start by recognizing Dawn McInnis, a longtime Northerner; a good friend of mine, Amanda Mallon, I consider a very valuable asset to the Northwest Territories, and I am proud to say is one of my friends.

I really want to reach out and say it is great to see all of the young students who are here in the Chamber today. I want to recognize also that these youths are mostly female. In fact, I see all females, and, if I am wrong, may the lone male stand up. As the Minister responsible for the Status of Women, I really want to say it is really important to see them...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The community of Fort Liard actually at this point hasn't really come forward. We've had one individual from the community who has asked to have a board. If the community is interested in having a board, then we would be more than willing to provide that for the community, but we would like the community to come forward, more than one single individual, to express their desire to have a board. Once we get the community on board, then we're more than willing to provide that.

I'd first like to address the first comment that was made in stating that this report was a report of what we've done up to this last year, up till now. So it's not about something new, although we have discussed that we will be looking at the last region, which is the Sahtu, within the next fiscal budget, so I haven't forgotten the Sahtu.

The other thing that we're talking about, the question that the MLA had asked me was about the surplus units, so yes we have a plan. We had committed that we would be doing 50 within this current fiscal year and 50 within the next. We had 101 vacant surplus...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, for fiscal year 201718 our capital plan includes $4.8 million in investments in energy-efficient components and upgrades.

We have also partnered with the Arctic Energy Alliance in supporting their LED lighting project, and the upcoming fiscal year will see us investing $200,000 to continue to support the LED initiative for its public housing units. These actions will help reduce CO2 emissions and associated fuel costs for both existing home units and future construction projects.

Having accessible, timely, and responsive property management services is...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, our entry into this Legislative Assembly just over a year ago seems a distant memory. Back then, having been a Minister for less than a couple of months, the learning curve was daunting and there were many things I needed to learn. The perception of how long ago those times were is reinforced even more by how much work we have done since then. Not only did I spend days, evenings, and weekends reading binder after binder, I have expanded my housing knowledge the honest way by travelling throughout our territory into our rural and remote communities and...

In regards to the surplus units that the Member brought forward before he asked the question, if he would like to contact me we can provide a detailed list to any Member. In fact, I've done that for other Members here already on the surplus units that are in their communities, how many are up for sale and how many are to be demolished. Like I say, I have done that for other Members and I'm willing to extend that to all Members if they would like that.

The other thing on the local housing organizations in the new communities, we have job offers open and it's just the process. So I can't actually...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Currently within the fiscal year, we're looking at doing the four-plexes specifically for single people to address homelessness in the communities of Fort Simpson, Behchoko, and Aklavik.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask for unanimous consent to finish my statement. Thank you.

Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in order to address the priorities of the 18th Legislative Assembly, the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation has made the commitment to work in partnership with other orders of government to address affordable housing requirements in support of their service delivery to Northwest Territories' residents.

The Northwest Territories Housing Corporation is addressing this priority through its mandate commitment to develop northern solutions for northern housing as part of its strategic plan, Building for the Future. Today, I want to provide Members with an...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to highlight the work done by the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs to support the Government of the Northwest Territories' priority of lowering the cost of living for residents of the Northwest Territories. Progress towards our commitments in this area is essential if we are to improve our residents' quality of life and attract more people to make their homes in the territory.

Mr. Speaker, Municipal and Community Affairs is assisting community governments to address energy management and improve energy efficiencies. Municipal and...