Frieda Martselos

Mr. Speaker, today, I am talking about housing and the need for improvements to be made within the area of client services. The NWT Housing Corporation is a government agency that administers and oversees all of the territory's housing programs and housing options available to residents of the NWT. Based on its structure and function alone, at the end of the day, this agency, the NWT Housing Corporation, is a client-service-based organization. It is about serving the people of the NWT in the best possible way for all of their housing needs.

Mr. Speaker, based on the feedback I am hearing from...

No, Madam Chair.

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I listened to some of the comments around the table. Economic recovery is extremely important. Economic recovery means new dreams, new developments, new things. When I hear comments that are, "These monies and allocations were given for certain projects. They can't be changed to universal childcare. They cannot be changed to something else" -- when we sit around this table and we're talking about infrastructure and we're not even discussing that in that right department, it amazes me on some of the things that are brought here at this level in that sense.

I, too, agree with universal childcare...

Can the Minister tell us what the current Northwest Territories Housing Corporation protocol is in dealing with client complaints about management at local housing authorities?

Mr. Speaker, I want the Minister to succeed and do well with her portfolio. My hope is that the Minister will hear my critiques and work with the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation to improve its client services at the Fort Smith Housing Authority. We are still in a pandemic. Threats, last-chance letters, and eviction notices must stop. My constituents who are reliant on public housing must be treated fairly and with respect. Does the Minister agree? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Sorry, Madam Chair. I am getting too tired. I said I wanted to make sure, Madam Chair, that I just put a statement in on the corporate management side, too, because I am very strong on making sure that we, as a government, do not think of only all these other things. We have to have a balance, I know that, with climate change, environment, and stuff, but we also have to move forward. I am not going to ask any questions. I don't know how the Minister feels about that. I just want to see how she feels about that, because I sit here and I listen. As a businessperson and being 50 years in business...

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Would the Minister agree, considering past problems, that external delivery of addiction services is more favourable for the client on the basis of anonymity, privacy, and the success rate is much higher than it was in the past?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Would the Minister agree that on-the-land programs could be used for a form of after-care in the smaller communities and regions? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.