Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I made a statement at my Member's statement. There is a lot of housing in Behchoko that are boarded up and also burnt houses. I would like to ask Housing Corporation Minister the question [Translation ends].
As I alluded to in my Member's statement, we have a lot of boarded-up and burned units in my community of Behchoko, which I believe is the responsibility of NWT Housing Corporation. They are obviously an eyesore and potentially dangerous to my community. What is the process of dealing with these houses that can no longer be lived in, especially these burnt units in the community? Masi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member. Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Lafferty for your comments. The Housing Corporation right now, I would like to look at options in regards to home insurances for new homes that are being built, looking at the abandoned units that are in your community. I would like to go into the community and take a look at what we actually have there, what is our inventory for Behchoko. I am really looking at the safety, as well, too, and looking at the options that we might be able to provide as NWT Housing Corporation in regards to insurances. I will look at options going forward. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. I was just going to remind you to please address your remarks through me. Thank you.
Some of these units, especially the burnt units, have been an eyesore for the last 10 to 15 years in my community, and still is today. The families who lived there continue to struggle. A lot of them are homeless now. These are families that are desperately in need of help, and those pleas have been ignored for a very long time by this housing corporation.
The Minister did talk about going to the community. I am just wondering if there is a plan in place today to deal with these burnt units, if they could be replaced so these families can have homes again. As it stands, they are homeless right now, couch-surfing in the community. They do not have a warm place to go to at times, so what is the current position of the Housing Corporation to deal with these burnt units so we can have the family go back to their community homes?
In regards to the burnt units that are in Behchoko and the homeless that are there, I am not familiar with the number of units that are available in the community, and I am not familiar if there was a report that had been done in the past, but I will make it my priority to review them, and I will get back to you with numbers for you, how many vacancies we do have in Behchoko. Also, for the burnt units, once again, we will explore options for the home insurances.
I am enjoying these answers that I am getting from the brand new Minister. It is an area of challenge in the community, but we have to keep in mind that this has been going on for the last 15 years. The next question obviously is a critical one for me, as well. The Minister did allude to at some degree, but I want to get a clear and concise answer on this particular question. Is the NWT Housing Corporation willing to look at these individually, on case-by-case basis, and to investigate reasonable solutions for these families so they can live with dignity once again?
As the Housing Corporation Minister, I am new to the position, but then I am from a smaller community; I am familiar with the scenarios and situations that the Housing Corporation does have in the smaller areas. I am open to looking at these individual cases case-by-case in your community and the responsible solutions. I do not have the information right now to provide to you in regards to how are we going to be accommodating the residents in Behchoko and the people that are affected.
Member for Monfwi.
Masi. The Minister did bring up that she represents a small community, and it has not been the case in the previous Executive, so I would like to thank the Member for that, speaking from her experience. It will make a difference in my community and especially the small communities that we represent across the Northwest Territories.
Mr. Speaker, since housing is the number one issue in my region, I would like to ask the Minister and also the senior staff: it is very crucial that they attend, as well, to visit my communities of Behchoko, Whati, Gameti and Wekweeti, along with the local housing authority representatives, to deal with my constituents' issues and concerns that I just addressed with the Minister. I believe this matter is urgent enough to warrant this meeting early in the new year. I would like to get a commitment. I know the Minister alluded to, to some degree, but I would like to get a commitment from the Minister today. Masi.
Yes, the Housing Corporation will be committed to visiting the Tlicho region. I am also wanting just to express, as well, Wekweeti was the first community for the Housing Corporation that had completed a housing plan, and we are actually going to be going there next week to explore those options and those accomplishments that they have completed. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.
