Michael Nadli

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think the other question I wanted to ask is on page 353. It is regarding grants, contributions and transfers, whether that is perhaps the line item that is within the scope of agreements that the Housing Corporation is entering into with the Aboriginal governments?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just wanted to come to an understanding in terms of the progress of the need towards establishing LHOs, and understand the challenge in terms of moving from home ownership to public housing rental systems in some communities, and more so, too, in my riding.

I just wanted to see if there has been some progress made. I understand there has been the realization that it might make sense to establish an LHO on a reserve, as an example. I just wanted to see if there have been some advances. I know the Minister has stated that she is planning to meet with chief and council from...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in September 2016 the GNWT and the K'atlodeeche First Nations signed an Intergovernmental Memorandum of Understanding, and in that agreement they wanted to enhance their working relationship and only the subject matters that they want to work on is housing. So my final question to the Minister: what will it take for action to be taken to address the housing issue on the Hay River Reserve? Mahsi.

What I'm expressing is, in my recent visit to the band or the K'atlodeeche First Nation are residents on the Hay River Reserve. I'm not saying basically to criticize her position in the GNWT, but these are real concerns from people who want access to housing. So building a relationship seems to be the steps that have been taken forward, and it's good, you know, we're making progress and we're trying to build homes. How is the corporation working with the Hay River Dene Band to explore new and innovative ideas to meet housing needs on the reserve, such as establishing a new local housing...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. One thing that I am curious about. In terms of the attempts of defining homelessness issue, especially homelessness in the context of communities, they could be presumed that people who are homeless are not homeless per se, but because the system that is there, sometimes they don't fit the criteria. One of the challenges that people face in the communities is that they have gone through the public rental system. For some reason or another, they have defaulted on their rent. Over time, they have accumulated their arrears. Sometimes, it works against them. They cannot...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

"Houses are for display only."

"The housing issue is awful; nothing is being done."

"There at 16 houses sitting empty and have been empty since 2008."

Those are a few statements from residents at the K'atlodeeche First Nation.

I had understood that work was progressing between the Hay River Dene Band and the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, but residents tell me that repair and maintenance program and services, not to mention the houses themselves, remain out of reach.

Mr. Speaker, residents have shared with me their frustration and their despair. They talk to me...

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I wanted to talk about on page 359, in particular, the line items respecting the Homelessness Assistance Fund, and also the Small Community Homelessness Fund. It seems very prominent that there has been some efforts in terms of tackling the homelessness issues. The most visible, of course, the efforts have been made here in Yellowknife. In light of that, there was the recent report of people moving from the small communities into the regional centres and, of course, Yellowknife as well. In light of that, I wanted to understand what features of perhaps successful...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Very progressive in terms of ensuring the capacity is made and, you know, just to position First Nations in the spirit of self-government and land claims to take on the responsibility of administering their own housing programs. The Minister states that these agreements are flexible in terms of ensuring that both parties can come to some broad terms and principles, and I just wanted to understand: where is the federal government in these agreements? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I was trying to come to an understanding in terms of where it could be appropriate to ask this question, but I understand in the section community housing services within the department I think the Minister had stated that there are working agreements with Aboriginal governments and they are continuing on building that positive working relationship. So if it is okay, I would like to ask the question in that respect. The simple question is: whether it be Inuvialuits or with the K'atlodeeche First Nations, how are these agreements contemplated? As I said earlier...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, 353.