Frieda Martselos

Mr. Chair, I asked just the number of completed applicants, and I got a big long spiel. And I really would appreciate that the Minister be very direct in the answers. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

So, you know, Mr. Chair, if we're going to continually use the means test for seniors and for people who are trying to gain ownership just because because I had a client from Fort Smith that applied to the homeownership program and were refuse. They were just like $10,000 over. The whole philosophy of homeownership has got to change and also the means test for seniors, if we truly believe in some of our statements that we make in this House. You're discouraging people from working. We should be encouraging people to work. And until that is switched around to the housing corp, we will never...

Mr. Chair, I'd like to question the seniors aging in place retrofits and repairs. Does that come with a means test for seniors? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

My second question is I've heard the Minister say that they're going clientbased and other people saying that they appreciate the clientbased direction that the housing corp is taking. If you're really serious about this, I would like to see oversight for the clientbased programs. There should be a neutral oversight appeal board for clients. And I wonder if the Minister or the department will examine this. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the fourth and final budget for the 19th Assembly was delivered by the Finance Minister one week ago, on February 8, 2023. Overall, among the many issues we dealt with throughout this term includes the fragile fiscal situation that our government finds itself in right now. According to this year's budget, the Government of the Northwest Territories' total debt for 20232024 is $1.47 billion, which is not far from our territory's debt capacity of $1.8 billion, although I will acknowledge that for the first time in the life of this Assembly, the GNWT's...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My last question is, there's 56 applicants for homeownership that were done across the territories. How many actually are complete? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Chair, I want to question the means test for the homeownership program. Does that come under a means test also? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I also would like to see a policy on expulsion of drug dealers within the housing corp. We have many drug dealers that seem to be able to rent these houses, get into housing very easily, and pay the minimum rent because they're not working but they're doing other things, and big fancy cars sitting outside their house. I think that we have to have a policy. I don't know how we could deal with that but we have to think of something creative and innovative to ensure that this is not happening and that we look after families that really require housing. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My first question is with regards to the line in program detail vice president's office. In the main estimates, it has $383,000. And then the previous finance and infrastructure services, it has $510,000. So that adds up to $893,000 for the vicepresident's office. I wonder what that entails. Could you just give me a brief I'm asking that question the previous section and this section, and it adds up to $893,000 rather than one line. It's almost the same as the expenses with the president's office, Mr. Chair. So I'm just wondering why separate them? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I too want to address the homelessness initiatives and especially homeless shelters. Fort Smith doesn't have a homeless shelter at this point. There was a proposal that went forward. It was a pilot project for five tiny homes. A solution, not an ongoing expense to the homelessness initiative. And yet it never came to fruit because I don't know who decided it wasn't a good project, but I think that the Indigenous group that actually had the homeless shelter pilot project knows what they're doing. They have a proven record.

And the former Minister of housing could attest...