Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When I have the mayor of Paulatuk on the phone wondering why people are being evicted from their homes, where they’re going to go, to live in the school, Mr. Speaker, we have a big problem. I’ve spoken to it many times in this House and the Housing Minister has come to the community and yet on and on it goes without a solution.
Four families have already had to be moved in with relatives. It puts stress on the families involved, it’s hard on the kids and even harder on the grandparents. Elders wonder what’s happening, why is it happening. Now another eight families are slated to be evicted. In the crisis, we have to do something about this, Mr. Speaker. We cannot just keep kicking people out of the houses they live in in the middle of winter. Where can the families go in a community of 340 people? What are they supposed to do?
The crisis stems from the arrears built up from 2006 to 2010 when the Department of Education, Culture and Employment was in charge of the system. Now the Housing Corporation has taken the responsibility back. Members have been told the problems and the arrears are being solved.
Well, Mr. Speaker, problems are not being solved. Do we want to see eight houses in the community of Paulatuk empty? And where are the people going to live while they sit vacant, Mr. Speaker? We have to put people in these homes and keep them there.
When the Housing Minister last came to Paulatuk I thought it was a start. We had major resolving in the crisis. Now the people in the leadership want them to come back to answer the questions and find solutions to this together.
Mr. Speaker, in the meantime, the Housing Minister must put a stop to any more evictions. He must put a stop to getting people kicked out in the cold.
Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.
