Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, follow-up to my Member's statement, I have a few questions for the Minister of Housing. I'd like to ask the Minister, can the Minister offer any early observations from the survey data? For instance, how many people responded and how would that range across target groups? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last week the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation would have concluded its housing survey of Northerners. Thankfully, it was extended by one month. This survey is meant to help the corporation gather information about what residents want and need in their public and market housing, as well as from government housing programs. In fact, we've heard a lot about this survey.

Back on October 19th, the Minister advised Members that the survey would be put out to every single user of housing services, followed by a cost-based analysis of what residents...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don’t agree with the Minister on that one. You know, it's a small price to pay to get a high turnout rate for, especially, a survey of this importance, Mr. Speaker. You know, I'm very disappointed to get that response, but I knew it was coming. Once the survey is completed, what is the Housing Corporation's next steps towards its full policy review and development of a new strategic plan? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As I mentioned in my statement, many of the people in the communities don’t know where to access this information for the survey. So while the survey is running, how and where could people access this information?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues. It not clear to me just how the survey would capture the views of these different groups. Mr. Speaker, what about residents who don't have internet access, or who aren't tech savvy. A survey available online or at the LHO isn't accessible to many of our elders, Mr. Speaker. It makes sense to go door-to-door instead. Face-to-face contact is necessary to ensure strong turnout and valid representation. This might be pricey upfront, Mr. Speaker, but it is better than making big investments on weak data. Some of the survey questions also made me...

There are a number of people in my riding that have a lot of questions. I'd like to ask the Minister if he would be willing to travel to the communities to do a tour, whether it's in January or December. I know he's very busy, but if the Minister has time, would he accompany me on a tour?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In follow-up to my Member's statement, I have a couple of questions for the Minister of ECE. As the department develops the junior kindergarten implementation plan that reflects the recent motion, how will they communicate ongoing developments to current program providers and to communities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Going forward from today, what avenues will current program providers and communities have to approach the department with their questions and concerns about junior kindergarten?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, over these past few weeks Members have spent much of our time in this House talking about the importance of empowering parents, children, and communities to actively participate in how their children's education unfolds. This means empowering parents to choose language education classes for their children, whether Gwich'in or Inuvialuktun. It means empowering parents to choose which pre-kindergarten program best suits their child, whether junior kindergarten, Aboriginal Head Start, or another.

The junior kindergarten motion that we carried in this House on...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister, can the Minister ensure that this is straightened out by the mid-term of the school year? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.