Lucy Kuptana

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will definitely look into it to see what -- the details for the question from the Member. I cannot commit to getting the completed -- the work completed. I have to look at the budget, see what we have allocated, especially for the riding. But I will follow up with the Member on the details. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Member for the question. The information I have today on the status of repairs to Inuvik public housing units is that we have two units that are about 50 percent complete in the modernization and improvement of that public housing unit. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I asked Housing NWT yesterday for an update on how this works locally and territorially. And from what I understand, we as Housing NWT sign a community services agreement with the Fort Simpson Housing Authority to manage the houses, the public housing units at Fort Simpson. So we provide them a budget allotment every year, ask for audited financial statements every year, and that is what we do as Housing NWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I recognize the important work that the local housing authority employees do every day in all of our communities. We have 24 local housing authorities operating throughout the Northwest Territories in 32 communities, so this is important work that they do. I recognize the impact and recognize what's happening today in one of our local housing authorities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following seven documents: Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Motion 21-20(1): Taking Action to Address Housing as a Human Right; Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Motion 30-20(1): Maintaining Northwest Territories' Housing Stock; Follow-up letter for Oral Question 158-20(1): Collaboration with Indigenous governments on Home Renovations; Follow-up letter for Oral Question 184-20(1): Affordable Housing for Elders; Follow-up letter for Oral Question 196-20(1): Housing Units Destined for Sahtu; Follow-up...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the local housing authority in Inuvik is provided an annual budget allotment and much of that budget is for maintenance of public housing units in Inuvik. They have been doing minor repairs and trying to get many of the units up to par for public housing tenants. So that work is ongoing, Mr. Speaker. We're hoping to get more done over the fall/winter, so hoping to provide better news for the MLA. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, officially I can't intervene in strike action as Minister of Housing NWT. Unofficially, I can have a private conversation with anybody but, officially, I can't do that. And I can't impact strike negotiations, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, under the 1997 social housing agreement with the federal government, Housing NWT assumed responsibility for the ongoing operations and maintenance of the territory's public housing units. Many of these units remain in service and need significant renovation or replacement. Housing NWT continues to invest in maintenance and renovation on an annual basis to keep assets in good working condition. I would like to speak today on how Housing NWT manages its assets and the ways we are finding efficiencies and partnerships to improve the state of our units.

Housing NWT plans to invest over...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is critical work that we have to do throughout the North. We have to gain capacity. We have to build capacity in our communities. And these need to be local people and local jobs. That's how we're going to do it. And this is how we're going to build, like, the North, and it's working locally and having that local capacity. So the work that Housing NWT does in partnership with Education, Culture and Employment is critical work that we have to do going forward. And over the last number of years, Housing NWT, with the local housing associations, has supported 64...

I think this opportunity that has been driven by the local housing society is a really great opportunity that all communities should consider. And Housing NWT came forward as a partner in assisting them with the application for the funding allocation that they recently received. So this is a possibility in all ridings and all communities. It's just that the work has to be done in partnership with Housing NWT but also locally, they have to be driven by the work. So the possibility is there. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.