Richard Edjericon

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's my understanding that we have we are in the discussions with Cheetah Resources about securing a bankable longterm mining lease. This is an essential requirement for any mining project to ensure it has secure tenure and protect its multimillion dollar investment. Could the Minister advise us on the status of the discussion? Mahsi.

Yeah, thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Lands with devolution.

Mr. Speaker, our government assumed increasingly authority for the responsible management of lands in the NWT, including the administration of mining and exploration land use. Would the Minister outline for the Assembly what those responsibilities are? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Yeah, Madam Chair, that answers my questions because I mean, it's there is a process in place but then that's avenue we to address this issue. That would be great. Mahsi.

Thank you, Madam Chair. One final question is that I know the Minister said yesterday about the work of the communities. I just want to make sure that when they work with the communities that it's either we're going to follow the the fire code from building to building, which is 40 feet, and that is considered in their design when like, for example, the community N'dilo and Dettah, we have a community plan but right now the lots are 50 by a hundred. In actual fact, if we were to follow the fire marshal's office, it should actually be 70 feet by a hundred feet, 17 by a hundred feet and so on...

Thank you, Madam Chair. A couple quick questions. The Office of the Fire Marshal, I just wanted to just to add my comments on that. There's a budget of $512,000 there for to helping that office. But my experience working construction in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, and also working with the Housing Corporation and working with the local housing authorities in the communities, the thing is that when I think about the municipality or even the city of Yellowknife, the property lines in this area here, most properties around the city of Yellowknife are about 50 by a hundred. And between...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Minister for your answers, and that helps. I just had a couple quick questions here.

I recognize that the NWT Housing Corporation will provide a plan to address core housing needs in the NWT to this Assembly before the end of the session, and this is a very positive one. However, Mr. Speaker, I'm looking for a detail assessment data for every home in my riding, every home by community. Can the Minister provide that level of detail to me? Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Housing.

In order to address core housing needs in the communities, there needs to be an assessment done on every asset. This is critical piece in building the plan to improve core housing. Can the Minister of Housing provide a total estimate budget to address housing core needs for the Tu NedheWiilideh riding? Mahsi.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just wanted to take a look under grants in lieu of taxes. I want to just make a couple comments, and I'll try to keep it short as possible.

I just wanted to mention that as the new MLA for Tu NedheWiilideh riding, I also come from a background of being the Chief of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation and the Akaitcho Territory government. And I also just wanted to just mention on some of the feedback I've been getting back from my constituents in regards to taxation, and I just want to talk about two things or a couple things I guess.

One is the honour of the Crown and...

Okay, thank you again; good to hear that, really good answer.

Now that I know your answer, also I think it's important, you know, that we have a department here in the Northwest Territories that could take the lead on outside larger cities of Yellowknife that could really enforce the, you know, National Building Code, fire code, all the codes that are out there. The thing is that also what I notice is that the GNWT, whenever they undertake a project, they through Infrastructure, it's laid out very clear right from when the you know, the geotech, the architectural engineers, contractors...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Minister. Can the Minister of Housing explain how the Housing Corporation is engaging with Indigenous governments in my riding to address the housing crisis? Mahsi.