Rylund Johnson

Yeah, and I know the Housing Corp traditionally, and I understand, had a preference for stickbuilt. We're seeing a lot more modular units because, you know, with stickbuilt, you can kind of train apprentices and train more people. But can we get some updated figures on, you know, what it costs to deliver modular housing versus stickbuilt housing? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm looking at the page 390 lease commitments, $14 million. Can I just get clarification whether the Housing Corporation in order to enter into leases has to go to FMB for approval and whether this $14 million commitment applies to our debt line? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yeah, I you know, to one extent, I wish that the Power Corp and the GNWT had the had the debt that the Housing Corp had, but I just it seems a little odd that the Housing Corp seems to be playing a different completely different game than everyone else when it comes to debt.

I'm curious, you know, if we, for example, were to look at Yellowknife, where we are spending a lot of money on leasing and we could go to a bank and borrow the money to build public housing, I think it's been made quite clear multiple times we don't actually have the capital on hand to build...

Thank you, Madam Chair. My other question is does the Housing Corporation have any other debt, or do we take on debt? Is that something that I'll start there. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm going to ask two questions here I think for efficiency. I see that the 2021 actuals were $355,000. Can I just get an explanation of why there is a $600,000 increase in the amount we're paying CMHC and what the total amount that we owe CMHC is? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. And I would like to thank the Premier for that answer. I think that that's great. I think it's great to have a senior person leading, you know, what is a very important renewal, and I look forward to the results of that.

I guess I have some questions a bit about where we think this renewal is going. I know we got the new statement and vision today. And I think the way I would frame the longstanding tension in the Housing Corporation is whether it is a social envelope department or whether it should be a corporation that is solely focused on assets and infrastructure. And...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I see there's one additional position in the executive. Can the minister explain what that position is?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know the department has provided support through a variety of funding mechanisms for hide camps. In the past, I know they've supported the Dene Najho Urban Hide Camp which happens right in Somba K'e Park here in Yellowknife.

I'm just hoping the Minister can give me a total of how much money we have provided to support this area and exactly where one can apply, where the funding comes from? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I spoke earlier today about the need to make sure that we continue to produce traditionally tanned moose hides. And one of my concerns in this area is I know many harvesters do not take the hide when they harvest a moose. It's quite a bit more work. Harvesting the animal to take the hide completely. And if you have no one to give it to or you're not willing to put in the weeks of time yourself, it's not really worth taking it out of the bush. And I'm just wondering if the Minister could look into some sort of incentive to make sure people try and take the hides from...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yeah, I'm very happy to see that, and that work excites me. I think as part of that work, I'm wondering if the department will do some evaluation of shelter costs versus housing costs. I think it's well established that shelters are extremely expensive and, you know, one GNWT staff person who we when we create a shelter could actually just pay for six people to be housed. And I think when it's coming out of different departments, perhaps that analysis is not being done, and I think perhaps some of our shelters, although, you know, we need them until one day perhaps we...