Herbert Nakimayak

I appreciate the response. Mr. Speaker, it's good, and I would like to encourage the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation on better construction methods and also more culturally appropriate housing for people who live on subsistence harvesting. Mr. Speaker, if residents are living in a Housing Corporation unit with mould problems, what steps can they take to see the issue diagnosed and addressed?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier, I spoke of mould in new construction and mould in the Northwest Territories, and my questions are for the Minister of Housing. Mr. Speaker, to date, what kind of public information initiatives has the Housing Corporation delivered to educate residents on mould prevention and remediation? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, mould is a persistent problem in northern housing, and it's one that can have potentially severe impacts on health and well-being. It's also a housing problem that's often not too well understood. Sometimes it can be addressed with a bit of focused cleaning. Other times, professional remediation is required, which is usually the case across the northern part of the territory.

Mr. Speaker, mould is a fungal growth that crops up in spaces where there is excess moisture in the air. That could be places like windowsills or bathroom walls or in materials that...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a lot of this has stemmed from the issues in, you know, the delivery to Paulatuk, Ulukhaktok got some of their goods. Paulatuk didn't receive a lot. A lot of my pressures on my colleagues and mainly to the Minister is coming from my constituents. I have had some difficulties working with the Minister on some of the issues. I'm sure one of the reasons might be they didn't have answers at the time. However, I believe that, you know, in this Assembly, we are all equals. What separates one side of the floor to the other is our roles as Regular Members and as...

I appreciate the response. It's good that the LHOs also do outreach in the communities where people do not have access to the Internet. Mr. Speaker, when the Housing Corporation builds new units, how are these units built with moisture management and mould prevention in mind?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Rita and Joe Banksland. Rita is originally from Ulukhaktok, and lives in Yellowknife now; my high school buddy, Ryan Yakeleya is up there, as well, too; again, the Mayor of Paulatuk, Ray Gruben; and also my beautiful wife, Yvonne, who is sitting in the gallery. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have often spoken about the critical need for housing in my region. Today I would like to focus on one particular part of this very large issue, the need for transitional housing.

Mr. Speaker, historically, transitional housing has been focused in our larger communities through organizations like Inuvik Transition House or the YWCA here in Yellowknife, whose Rockhill Apartments were recently lost in a fire.

We have come to better understand, Mr. Speaker, that homelessness is not a problem limited to the regional centres. Residents themselves have made their...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the response. There is a real need for collaboration across departments and, as well, with the government to Indigenous organizations and Indigenous governments in the territory. Mr. Speaker, there is a real need.

Mr. Speaker, to date, the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation was given $24 million directly from the federal government to build homes in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region. Mr. Speaker, with $24 million, one would think that $24 million would result in more homes as injections like this are key to the government. Over this session, I have listened to...

During these past couple of weeks or, actually, during this session, we have seen realities. Sometimes we don't need studies to see that programs or departments are failing, and they are failing hugely. One of my colleagues mentioned to the Premier that they need to be accountable for the services that we provide to the territory. We really need to stand by that, Mr. Speaker. Housing in my region is becoming less and less as the population grows.

Mr. Speaker, core need as well as general housing availability are critical housing issues across the territory. Mr. Speaker, how is the Housing...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with $24 million given to the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, one would think that that would inject more homes in the region, mind you, in the territory. Mr. Speaker, what is the Minister doing to ensure that the number of homes increase with the population in Nunakput and then across the territory? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.