Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I brought this issue up a few months back. This question is to the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. Mr. Speaker, a few months back, in the winter session, I brought up the concerns from Aklavik that, you know, the transition house, if you will, the four-unit building that was supposed to be put up in the community, was after some more planning supposed to go to a four-bedroom unit, which I don't feel is adequate, so I would like to ask our new Minister here: what are the plans for the four-unit transition home for Aklavik? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday you heard me make a Minister's statement in the House about the Northern Pathways to Housing pilot program. I mentioned four communities, Fort Simpson, Behchoko, Aklavik, as well as, just recently, Fort Good Hope, working with the K'asho Got'ine Housing Society to develop these units. Now, recently, I know the Member mentioned that there was a unit that we were going to fix up to address the transition house, but the current update on that is we met with the Aklavik Indian Band, and I believe that we are going to get materials there this summer and build new construction for a new building in the community of Aklavik. It should be done, hopefully completed, by December of this year.
That is great news. I know that community was disappointed when I made them aware that the building was going to be renovated, so that is great. Hopefully, we will have some work in the community. Will the Minister ensure that the contract is either negotiated -- I know the community does actually have a working group to try to get as much work in the community as possible.
As the Member knows, the NWT Housing Corporation has been working with the Aklavik Indian Band for a couple of years now in terms of the planning, looking for a lot, looking for where we can put either a new construction or where we can upgrade a current housing unit. As I mentioned, it is a new construction. We will get the materials there this summer. The building, the northern housing unit, should be complete by December of 2018. We will update the Member on a regular basis. We will also make sure that the Aklavik Indian Band does know this. In terms of the contract, I do believe the contract is already awarded, so the work can get started as soon as the material gets over to Aklavik. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.
