Herbert Nakimayak

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway has now been open for just over two months, opening up a whole new world of choices for employment, education, trading, shopping, commerce, and travel. The residents of Tuktoyaktuk have looked forward to this day for a long time, and they're ready to take advantage of the opportunities the new highway opens to them. But, Mr. Speaker, Northerners are practical people. Even when change brings exciting benefits, we would like to know the risks and we would like to tackle them head-on. In this case, increased mobility and...

It's good to see that the Minister is open to working with Regular Members on important issues like this. Mr. Speaker, my third question is: how will Health and Social Services addictions treatment and prevention programming include a public awareness campaign as being part of the government's approach to the legalization of cannabis?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier, my statement was on addictions and mental health and the impacts of accessibility to drugs and alcohol to the residents of Tuktoyaktuk after the opening of the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk highway. Mr. Speaker, my question to the Minister is: can the Minister provide a status update of the development of the addictions recovery action plan? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the response. During the last constituency tour, residents of small communities were somewhat concerned and wondering how the government is going to roll out its action plan and as well as the looking at the legislation for cannabis.

Mr. Speaker, my final question: the Minister mentioned he would work with local Indigenous governments and Regular Members on addictions and wellness. I just wonder, Mr. Speaker, if the Minister could give a few details on how the government will work with the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation on addictions and wellness programs...

I appreciate the response. Mr. Speaker, with the economy slow as it is in Nunakput, it's hard to see anyone moving from outside the territory to the communities where there's no work, with market housing rentals still open, and some remain empty. Mr. Speaker, my final question for the Minister is: how will the Housing Corporation make progress in shortening the public housing waiting list in 2018-2019?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier I spoke about conditions in housing in Nunakput, and my questions are for the Minister of Housing. Mr. Speaker, my first question is: can the Minister provide an overview of the NWT Housing Corporation's rules and procedures for evictions, specifically during the winter months? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the Minister for that detailed response. Mr. Speaker, my second question for the Minister is: when can the Northwest Territories expect to see the Corporation roll out projects funded by the federal government's new National Housing Strategy?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this time last year I gave the House an update on housing conditions in the Nunakput region and its communities of Paulatuk, Sachs Harbour, Tuktoyaktuk, and Ulukhaktok. The most recent public data from the 2014 housing survey tells us that almost 40 per cent of Nunakput households have housing problems, with about 28 per cent in core need.

Mr. Speaker, this reflects what I heard in my constituency travels recently. Housing is on everyone's minds. I heard from residents with concerns about overcrowding and others concerned by evictions taking place in the...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I think motions like this, we need to look at what is going on to the west of us, to the east of us, and as well as other governments in this country and around the world before we start to change something like this which could affect operations within federal jurisdictions like, say, Parks Canada, for instance. They need to coincide, they need to coordinate their time of operations all across Canada, and that is the daylight savings time, time zone changes, and we need to look at the trajectory of which way these are going. I think they are staying stable...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as a neighboring MLA for the Member from Mackenzie Delta, I support this motion as well too. Mr. Speaker, this is a good opportunity for the Gwich'in settlement region as well as the Gwich'in International which is in Alaska, the Aleutians, and the GNWT. I think we are all in the right place to partner up to bring this to the level of the Arctic Council as well as to the United Nations.

Mr. Speaker, all those avenues are key to slowing down a process like this that maybe moved by another government that is out of our control and out of our reach. We are...