Kevin O'Reilly

Thanks, Madam Chair. Is the Minister going to provide us with a plan to get our housing out of core need, and when would can we expect that plan? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thanks, Madam Chair. So what is that amount, please? Thank you.

Thanks, Madam Chair. Yeah, if I thought I was confused before about the Housing Corporation, that one really any ways, look, you guys got to find a different way to present this stuff; sorry. If it takes a schedule or a note or something, you got to find a better way to present the financial information 'cause I think I think it would benefit yourselves. You might get fewer questions in Committee of the Whole. You might get fewer Member's statements on the floor, oral questions for your Minister. You guys got to find a better way to present this. Sorry. And with all due respect, I know I'm...

Thanks, Madam Chair. Yeah, I do have some prepared comments. For the record, whenever Bill 29 was on the agenda for discussion at the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment, I declared a conflict of interest. I was not present for any discussion. The only exception was on September 15th, 2021, when I was invited by the committee to present on the bill and answer questions as part of the public hearing.

I will not discuss the bill directly or its merits as that is for another day. But I do wish to comment on parts of the committee report. The report states that some view...

Merci, Monsieur le President. Well, I guess all good streaks have to come to an end, but I appreciate the work that the Minister's doing on this, and Arctic Energy Alliance as well, but they may need some more money to help get this working a little better.

As a result of these energy audits, though, money I think is being left on the table for NWT homeowners and they could be using that to increase energy efficiency, save money, and combat climate change. What Arctic Energy Alliance energy retrofit funds have been lapsed over the last five years as a result of the inability to complete...

Merci, Monsieur le President. I think that was a yes, and good work. I appreciate that, thank you.

So can the Minister tell us, though, whether her department is working with other provincial and territorial jurisdictions to change this unnecessary federal program requirement of pre and post energy audits. Merci, Mr. Speaker.

Merci, Monsieur le President. I'll talk today about problems with the federal Energy Efficiency Grant Program that are preventing NWT residents from receiving program benefits, saving energy, and cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

The Canada Greener Homes Grant Program was established in May 2021 by the federal government and provides cash grants up to $5,000 to private homeowners for energy efficiency retrofits. To receive the grant, applicants must have home energy audits done both before and after retrofits. The Arctic Energy Alliance is the only provider of such audits in the NWT that's...

Thanks, Madam Chair. I move that the chair rise and report progress.

Yeah, thanks, Madam Chair. Yeah, look, I get that there's probably issues with sustainability and finding the money, but if we don't have a plan to get our housing out of core need, you can't formulate we can't formulate an ask to Ottawa, and we don't have a plan to deliver adequate affordable, and I think it's suitable, housing for our residents. That's the importance of getting this plan together. I've been asking for it now for six years. I know we had the On Level Ground report in the last Assembly that was getting closer to it. But if you don't if we don't have that plan, you can't go...

Thanks, Madam Chair. I don't if I should laugh or cry.

Okay, clearly we're not spending enough on housing. I think I made the point. I really look forward to seeing this 20year capital plan that's going to cost a billion dollars.

So I think I heard a commitment, though, as well to the Member for Kam Lake that there was going to be some kind of a an outline or a rough plan for getting our housing out of core need. Is that what I heard? Thanks, Madam Chair.