Richard Edjericon

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister of Finance.

The capital estimates allocate some $35 million to Housing NWT. As I've said many times, I am firm in belief that this money would be better spent through contribution agreements with Indigenous governments. Does the Minister agree that Indigenous governments in the Tu NedheWiilideh riding are efficiently and effectively managing their financial resources with respect to housing and programs and strategies? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. If maybe you could help just clarify for me in regards to the minor amendment for the Tu NedheWiilideh riding. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As mentioned earlier that I was in the community of Lutselk'e for a constituency meeting and I had mothers came up to me that were crying and with a baby and couch surfing in the community. And it's really disturbing and hard to hear that from the community when you go there, and it's right throughout the whole Northwest Territories. You know, I'm just thinking, you know, this year we got $30 million from Ottawa, and next year as well. I'm assuming this money that has been already allocated, and probably even next year, but I'm just thinking in the spirit in the spirit...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The mandate document promises to implement a new policy to allow seniors and disabled individuals to access housing repairs by the summer of 2021. Can the Minister update the House on how many people have been helped with home repairs due to this policy change? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In October 2020, the Speaker tabled the Ombud’s firstever annual report for 201920. The Ombud’s report made 14 for legislative changes to the Act. The recommendations were informed by:

The Ombud’s review of legislation in other jurisdictions;

The advice she received from other Ombuds and legal professionals; and.

The issues that arose when responding to individual complaints in her first year in the role.

The Ombud made her recommendations "with the intent of ensuring that my office is fully enabled to fulfill the purpose and vision with which the Legislative Assembly...

Thank you, Madam Chair. This issue here has been brought up while I was doing my door to door last year, and there were issues even then when I was listening to my constituent members. And the Yellowknife North used to include Dettah and N'dilo before. And then their recent in the last review of the electoral boundaries changed and they included N'dilo and Dettah in the new riding Tu NedheWiilideh riding. And so when I was going door to door, some of the members were talking about, you know, they were they really didn't want to see that happen mainly because their language and culture. And...

Thank you. And thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to table the document of a private home of Lutselk'e. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The mandate promises a leasetoown policy for the winter of 2020 with an average of 25 leases to own homeownership agreements signed per year for 2020 and 2023. Can the Minister update this House on how many leases have been signed to date? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the 201923 GNWT mandate, in that mandate, they promised to build 25 new units each year from 20 to 23. Can the Minister update the House on the status of this work, and where are we are we on track to achieve this? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister to Housing.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in 1948, the right to adequate housing was made part of the United Nation Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The right to adequate housing is relevant to all nations, and all members of the international community have ratified at least one treaty, declaration, plans of action, or a conference committing themselves to the right of adequate housing.

The United Nation's committee on economic, social and cultural rights has underlined the right to adequate housing should not be interpreted narrowly. Instead, it should be seen as a right to live somewhere in...