Tom Beaulieu

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, committee wishes to consider Committee Report 12-18(2), Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning Report on the Progress Review of the Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories, 2016-2019; and Tabled Document 419-18(2), Proposed Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories, 2016-2019 (Revised). Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, changing gears just a bit. I’d like to ask the Minister if the department has been able to determine the cost of alcohol to the health system in the NWT.

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member’s statement, I talked about the alcohol impacts of small communities. I’d like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services what is the department doing to address mental health and addiction issues in small communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there is a great issue with alcohol in the NWT, and a plan needs to be developed on how to strategically deal with addictions, and promote healthy families in small communities in the NWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Marsi cho, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the committee would like to consider Bill 27, An Act to Amend the Environmental Protection Act.

I am not talking about construction of winter roads. I know that if I have a question on winter road construction, I would ask the Minister of Infrastructure. I am trying to get a feel for whether or not the Housing Corporation has done any planning at all. What I am referring to is home ownership, not public housing. That does not matter to me. We can continue to move seniors around in the appropriate public housing in order that they remain in public housing as long as possible. I know that for sure. That is obvious. I am asking about seniors who are aging out of their houses, and what we...

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement, I talked a bit about aging in place and some of the numbers around that. I would like to ask the Minister if she would commit to completing planning for aging in place prior to winter roads so that the process of allowing seniors to age in place can begin this summer. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there are approximately 2,900 households in need in the NWT. I would like to ask the Minister if the NWT Housing Corporation, in the last two years, has been able to divide that need into the four nuclear groups that I spoke of earlier.

I think my question and my statement are mostly around senior homeowners; not what can be built for the seniors, but allowing the seniors to age in place in their own home, in their own community. That is the planning I am referring to, Mr. Speaker. Can I get the Minister to commit to completing that planning prior to winter roads?

Marsi Cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to speak about the lack of strategic spending on the part of the GNWT. The GNWT must increase the amount of money they spend strategically. I am going to speak about an easy one, low hanging fruit, as the saying goes.

Mr. Speaker, seniors care spending is the first scenario that I will speak of. The NWT Housing Corporation could retrofit seniors' homes designed to keep them in their homes and in their communities for an extra ten years on an average of $70,000 per unit. Mr. Speaker, these units could be brought to a barrier free or seniors...