Frieda Martselos

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister give me a timeline for when I can expect replies to my outstanding emails and enquiries, specifically the status of the RCMP housing contracts and the two public housing units that were supposed to be built in the 2020-2021 fiscal year? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

My next question requires clarity on how responses are given to constituents. Will the Minister consider changing the policy for how her department deals with constituents who are receiving threatening letters of eviction, letters of last chance, and treating our seniors and low-income people disrespectfully and undignified?

Mr. Speaker, since getting elected last year, I have assisted my constituents with a wide range of different issues, spanning all of the major departments of the Government of the Northwest Territories. By far, though, the one department I have dealt with the most has been the NWT Housing Corporation. In fact, I would estimate that roughly 90 percent of all my constituent concerns involve housing.

Mr. Speaker, I have noticed a concerning trend regarding housing in the NWT, particularly public housing. I am seeing a trend of mistreatment to vulnerable people, specifically for seniors and low...

Mr. Speaker, the letters are coming from Yellowknife, not from the regional office, just for correction. Given the effects of this ongoing pandemic and its impacts on everyday life, would the Minister consider, for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, placing a freeze on all land leases for rights-based permanent and long-term residents? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister's responses to my office regarding land leases is unacceptable. After getting up in the 18th Assembly 72 times addressing this issue to the former Minister of Lands, why is this Minister not true to his convictions and not proactively changing the way he's dealing with this whole issue?

Mr. Speaker, one of my first Member's statements in this House was about the Department of Lands and their recent increase on the minimum price of lease rent cost for leaseholders on territorial lands, which is administered and managed within the lands department.

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Lands increased the minimum rent cost for territorial land leases by $690. It went from a minimum cost of $150 and jumped to a minimum land-lease cost of $840 annually. This is a huge rent increase to absorb all at once. The rationale from the lands department for this large increase in rent minimums for...

I'm very concerned about the contents and tones of the threatening letters being sent to the people of the Northwest Territories who have land leases and especially to my constituents of Fort Smith. Will the Minister consider changing his department's policy and review the rationale of doing the right thing?

Mr. Speaker, my question for the Minister of Lands is: how is his department going to undo a major poor decision of the 18th Assembly that should have not happened without proper, meaningful consultation on the land leases? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, as the MLA for Thebacha, I firmly believe that seconding this motion is the correct thing to do in order to move forward. The Government of the Northwest Territories represents all the people of the North, and public outbursts that have happened have got to stop. Professionalism must take over. Serving all the people of the NWT, including the business community and Indigenous governments, must be a priority.

Mr. Speaker, I support the Premier and Cabinet with this decision. These kinds of actions are not taken lightly. I am sure they are well thought out. I know the reasons for...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my reply to the Commissioner's opening address, I mentioned my support of the NWT Metis Nation's Land, Resource, and Self-Government Agreement, as they are my constituents. The parties of this agreement include the NWT Metis Nation, which represents the Fort Smith, Hay River, and Fort Resolution Metis Councils, along with the Government of Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories. In 1996, these parties agreed to have negotiations take place in two phases. As of July 29, 2015, the NWT Metis Nation Agreement-in-Principle was signed, which officially...