Caitlin Cleveland

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Just as a final question today, I am wondering if the Housing Corporation has ever reviewed the unintended consequences of this policy. If yes, what have they found, and if not, why not and would they be willing to look into that? Thank you.

I appreciate the Minister's reference to fairness. I think that that is a fair comment, and I think that fairness is important. I think that fairness needs to be extended to the residents of the Northwest Territories, where we really do struggle with housing and people want fair access to safe and secure housing. This policy does not only prevent people from the rest of Canada putting their names on housing wait lists. It prevents Northwest Territories residents from putting their names on wait lists, from other communities. I think that that's why I keep asking these questions, is because I...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues. Today, American President Joe Biden announced a transportation-focused, long-term economy recovery plan. During the Great Depression here in Canada, the federal government funded highway construction to stimulate the economy. In anticipation of our federal government's plan to unveil its budget on April 19th, I would like to talk about roads, specifically the Mackenzie Valley Highway, or what I like to call "the forgotten leg of the Trans Canada Highway."

The Trans Canada Highway runs through all 10 Canadian provinces from Victoria to...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I am wondering if the Minister can speak to how the NWT Housing Corporation is driving the changes needed for communities to have affordable access to building material, repair, and maintenance within all communities of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Can the Minister also confirm what the annual operating cost is per public housing unit in the Northwest Territories?

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I would like to start off today by saying that I am honoured to be wearing sustainably harvested sealskin earrings made by the incredibly talented NWT artist found on social media under Inuk 360.

Mr. Speaker, the North desperately needs more housing, so last week's announcement of a $57 million investment from the federal government was a welcomed one. The need for safe, affordable, and well-built housing has been the North's primary social challenge for decades and has consistently been identified by Assembly standing committees as a root issue at the core of...

Does the Minister have any ideas of what the leading causes of mortgage arrears in the Northwest Territories and how the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation intends to address these challenges through their homeownership programs?

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. In the 2007 Auditor General's report on housing, it was found that about 71 percent of NWT Housing Corporation mortgages were in arrears. I'm wondering if the Minister of Housing can let us know what the average annual cost of home ownership mortgages are to the NWT Housing Corporation and including any maintenance or repair costs that the NWT Housing Corporation funds, as well. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Some of the northern businesses that we rely on on a regular basis continue to struggle under the existing public health restrictions. If the GNWT cannot commit to changes in public health restrictions once herd immunity is reached or if we still don't reach herd immunity this summer, how does the Department of Health and Social Services intend to support and advocate for the mental health and economic needs of Northerners under continued restrictions in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

No. I think that's very valuable information. I think it's also important that we know where work still needs to be done, especially when it comes to public education, and where we can kind of help make sure that our younger brothers and sisters and maybe our children or family members could stand to help us reach that herd immunity. What I'm wondering, Mr. Speaker, is: since we know that we're working towards 75 percent vaccination rate and we're hoping to reach it before the summer and I am very hopeful that the department of Health is able to get there in order to achieve herd immunity...