Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] Just recently, the weather has been changing, and we are into the winter season. There is a lot of concern coming from my communities, especially the elders. It is regarding their furnace and if it shuts down or breaks down, or the sewage line. They have concerns regarding that. I want to ask the housing Minister a question. In Behchoko, Whati, Gameti, Wekweeti, if any of their furnaces or running water breaks down, what do they do? Who can they ask help for? Masi. [Translation ends].
Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I hear the Member's comments. Seniors' housing is a priority for the Housing Corporation. We have approximately 348 seniors who are occupying our units presently, but that does not include the private homeowners, as well, throughout the territory. We do have a number of programs that are available. Right now, we are under review of making those programs more accessible.
The Member had asked about his riding, as well, and looking at the furnaces and how are we able to work with that if there are freeze-ups to sewer lines. Right now, we are working with the Indigenous groups to look at a community initiative project and a community initiative funding plan, that the community would be able to provide that service on behalf of the Housing Corporation. Should this service not be available locally, we will be looking at hiring outside of the Member's riding in order to provide those services. However, the priority of the Housing Corporation is that I would like to work more closely with the Indigenous governments and have them provide those services. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
[Translation] When we take a look at our elders in the communities, they have worked a long life, and we are trying to give them a comfortable home. We should make sure that they are taken care of. [Translation ends]. I am speaking on behalf of the elders of the communities, even throughout the Northwest Territories. The Minister alluded to where private homeowners are not eligible, and when we provide services such as for a furnace breaks down or plumbing, minus 40, minus 50, it's very critical that we assist those individuals. Policy or papering should not be in front of us. We should send people out there right away and deal with the paperwork after, but that does not seem to be the case. I would like to know when can we start including these elders who own their own homes? There are quite a few of them, and they are still begging, begging us to have a dedicated person in the community, that they can pick up a phone, speak Tlicho to, and then that person can be there. When?
My apologies to the Member. The Housing Corporation does have seniors' programming that do deal with emergency repairs in emergencies such as this. For the Member's riding, the Housing Corporation does provide that service from Yellowknife. We do have people who travel into the community to deal with those emergency services, to make sure that adequate care is being kept for private homeowners. I already had said that we are looking at the application process. I know it's quite lengthy and that language barriers are an issue, as well, and we need to start looking at how we are going to be better communicate with the Indigenous groups, using their language within that respective riding.
My colleague from Nunakput, his community, it's minus 26 today. That is coming to our region, too. It's a very real issue. Obviously, I would like to see this expedited. What I am stating here is coming directly from my elders calling me, speaking to me in my Tlicho language, just the other day. They do not want to go through this process again with minus 40, minus 50 the next couple of months. I highly encourage the Minister to expedite this process, and I am hoping that we can see before next month, at least. Would that be possible for the Minister's department to pursue that?
The programming already exists. I will follow up with the Member to identify the individuals so we could provide the programming and also provide the assistance in what level of programming the client may need to acquire.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Monfwi.
Masi, Mr. Speaker. What I am referring to is a dedicated person in the community who some elders can call directly because those elders will know the specific individual. We do not have that right now. We have somebody possibly coming from Yellowknife, and who do they call? The local housing authority. Sometimes, there is a runaround, and at times, a family member would have to come and possibly service the furnace, uncertified. What if something happens? Are we waiting till something happens here, Mr. Speaker? It's very critical that this policy change that the Minister is referring to, if that can be expedited so we can have a dedicated person to deal with the furnace and plumbing breakdowns in the community for elders who own their homes, Mr. Speaker. Masi.
I hear the Member's comments. The local housing authority does act on behalf of the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. They are our front line. When we do have housing issues, I would like the clients to be contacting the local housing authority so we would have information on how we are going to conduct and what kind of programming we are going to be offering. Also, I just wanted to elaborate on the dedicated person to be located and to be identified at the community level. Trades and apprentices are something that we are struggling with right now in trying to find that certification at the local community level and, also, the programming that is offered to keep the certification current. It does not stop the Housing Corporation from providing the service. Right now, just to inform the Member that we are working with the dedicated person that should be available at the local community level. We do have maintenance workers, but I do understand there's a stronger need for the service. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.
