Caroline Cochrane

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled "Status of Women Council of the NWT Annual Report 2015-2016." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

At this time no, there is not an interdepartmental committee to look at sports, rec and physical literacy for people in the Northwest Territories. That is the responsibility of the Municipal and Community Affairs.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think the Member is aware that we did actually purchase some land in Fort Simpson. We found out after the fact that there were burial sites on it, so that land was deemed not suitable for use for housing, although we are going to put some markers on the grave sites just out of respect. We have looked at other options within the community of Fort Simpson, but the price was quite high. We are just in the process now of negotiating those prices for land. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

to it being in the Member's community

---Laughter.

in that I'm very conscious that I need to make sure that we put units based on need, not just units based on political will. So I will make sure that we look at the wait list, we look at the amount of seniors in small communities, and the small community with the greatest need will receive the pilot project.

I can't confirm the actual market rental in Fort Providence itself because each community is different, but I can confirm that as part of this survey, and actually even before the survey, we are conducting a total review of all of our rental for accommodations in every single community, so we're in the process of doing that now.

As stated previously, we've already called for the -- or we will be calling for the five partners to come together and work on issues that we're facing. So, yes, I will commit to having the department work with the sports and recreation organizations on the development of a wide sectorial policy in full consultation with the organizations.

As the Members may know, taking in the lottery funding into the governance of the Northwest Territories is a new endeavour that we're doing. It is basically to save the taxation that may come out if we leave it within an independent organization. So that will result in hopefully about $1 million in savings that we might have had to pay for taxation.

So like I had said previously, we have promised that the Sport and Rec programming will receive the same amount of funding for this year, and probably more. Given that many of the organizations that we work with actually provide both sport and rec...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Hearing from communities including communities organizations and Aboriginal governments through this survey about the solutions to housing as they see in their communities is critical. While housing is complex, be assured that this survey will assist in ensuring that the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation plans coincide with the goals and the strengths of each individual community and work towards stable housing for all residents of the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, this survey will help the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation ensure its policies and...

That is a really tough question to answer directly and say yes or no. The reality is that we are in the process of doing the engagement survey, we have committed to doing community plans, individual community plans, for each community. If a community states to us that singles in their community is their number one priority, then that's where we'd be focusing our efforts. So it does depend on what the community surveys come back with.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to update the Members on how the Governments of Canada and the Northwest Territories are making investments in our communities that will bring economic opportunities for residents and businesses and revitalize municipal infrastructure.

On September 6, 2016, federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, Amarjeet Sohi, and the Northwest Territories Deputy Premier, Robert C. McLeod, signed a bilateral agreement for the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund and Public Transit Fund. This agreement will see the federal government providing over $50...