Tom Beaulieu

However, we must continue to remain vigilant of the health of the great Mackenzie River basin. Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to ask the Minister, based on the community housing development plans or community housing plans referred to the by the Housing Corporation, if there is any consideration to start working with the Indigenous governments to sign contribution agreements to have them take over some parts of the delivery of home ownership programs, not public housing. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. When I refer to divesting public housing, I am essentially asking the Minister if he has developed a strategy to either sell the public housing at a market rate in the communities where there is a market or a quasi-market or give the houses away to the public housing tenants themselves in communities where there is no market.

Right now, as it stands, the public housing units are for sale, but it is not feasible in the small communities for individuals to go to the bank to buy public housing units. They are appraised higher than they are worth. We have units that are...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Committee would like to consider Tabled Document 322-18(3), Main Estimates 2019-2020, with the NWT Housing Corporation and the Department of Lands. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Considering the master agreement has not received any funding increase since it was created in 1997, would the Minister commit to advocating for a funding increase?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member's statement I talked about the Transboundary Water Agreements. I would like to ask the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources questions. My first question is: I know that the GNWT has signed bilateral agreements with all affected jurisdictions, with the exception of Saskatchewan. Can the Minister provide us with a timeline of when this bilateral agreement may be signed? Thank you.

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to talk about the transboundary water protections in the NWT, specifically in regard to the large area encompassing the Mackenzie River watershed. The Mackenzie River watershed is one of the largest river basins in North America. It spans across six provinces and territories; contains tens of thousands of lakes, rivers, and deltas; and covers nearly 20 percent of our country. This watershed is the world's most pristine freshwater ecosystem.

Mr. Speaker, given the rich biodiversity inhabiting this region, it's paramount that the ecological integrity...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, could the Premier tell us if there is any such issue with the negotiations that involve the Akaitcho? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes. I remember the concept of Single Window Service Centres. I agree that it is remote. Surprisingly, it appears as though there could really be a need for it in Detah. Also, it appears as though, if we had a Single Window Service Centre in Detah, it is almost like the YK Dene would look at that to also service the people in Ndilo. I thought about this a lot. I am thinking that, even due to language, a lot of this service is directed to the elders, and some of the elders prefer to get their services in their own language. As people may know, I speak one of the languages...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'd like to ask the Premier if this is the correct area to be talking about the expansion of the Single Window Service Centres. Thank you, Mr. Chair.