Tom Beaulieu

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]

Today I once again wish to speak on the issue of housing programs for seniors in Tu Nedhe. Last year we lost three of our oldest residents, plus six or seven other elders who have passed. With each passing there is a tremendous loss of wisdom and experience. I feel I lost a part of history and community knowledge, as I visited regularly with six or seven of these seniors during my visits to Fort Resolution and Lutselk’e.

This presents a loss of 20 to 30 percent of our most respected elders and some of these elders have been waiting for...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to report to the Assembly that the Standing Committee on Social Programs has reviewed Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Veterinary Profession Act; Bill 2, An Act to Amend the Dental Auxiliaries Act; and Bill 3, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2010.

The Standing Committee on Social Programs wishes to report that Bills 2 and 3 are ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole and Bill 1 is ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole as amended and reprinted. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Many of the elders have land lease and land tax arrears. Does the Housing Corporation have some sort of plan to work with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs or even maybe the municipality, to deal with this issue and still be able to assist the elders with their housing issues? Is there a number in which, or an amount that can be provided to seniors if they have land lease issues, land lease arrears or tax arrears, for an example? Thank you.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today I spoke on the issue of housing programs for seniors in Tu Nedhe. I would like to follow up my statement with questions to the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell me if there is a plan in place to inspect and upgrade seniors’ homeownership units in Lutselk’e and Fort Resolution? Thank you.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]

Today I would like to talk about an elder and a friend who passed recently. Louis McKay passed away on March 19th in Fort Resolution at the age of 78. Louis was born in Fort Resolution in 1931 and from a very young age began working and didn’t stop until he was forced to retire at age 65.

Louis first started working when he was a young man, by selling blocks of ice to the Hudson Bay Company and the Ministry of Transportation. Later he started working for the Hudson Bay Company as a stock boy and then became a forest ranger and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I wish to acknowledge a young constituent and role model: 21-year-old Tsatsiye Catholique of Lutselk'e. On June 3rd, Tsatsiye will be graduating from a new and exciting program called Indigenous Environmental Studies at Trent University in Ontario.

Mr. Speaker, anytime our young residents graduate from university, it’s a special occasion. Coming from a small community such as Lutselk'e it’s extra special. It shows the dedication and commitment made by this young man and the support of his family, friends and the whole community.

Please join me in...

Mr. Speaker, with the short construction season, in addition to Lutselk'e being a barge community, will the Minister commit to ensuring that the staff get the much needed materials into Lutselk'e to address the elders’ housing issues in Lutselk'e? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I spoke about homeownership repairs for elders in Tu Nedhe. I’d like to follow up my statement with questions for the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. As mentioned in my statement, when you look at the numbers of units in Tu Nedhe owned by elders, they are not many. I also mentioned the housing issues in this sector of our population should be treated with more urgency. I would like to ask the Minister if he would commit to separating elders core need from other families so that the Housing Corporation can focus on elders’...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I hope that means Lutselk'e is getting a winter road.

---Laughter

Mr. Speaker, we’re nearing the end of this government and I think it’s important, in the area of homeownership and the area of housing, that we develop some sort of elders’ housing strategy. Would the Minister commit to starting or completing some sort of an elders’ housing strategy to address the housing issues for the elders across the Territories? Thank you.

To help kick-start this initiative and gather some good baseline information on the elders’ housing situation in Tu Nedhe, will the Minister agree to direct his staff to visit each of the elders’ households in Tu Nedhe?