Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The flooding this year has appeared to have not only caught communities off guard but this government as well. It was the people of the NWT that stepped up and provided immediate support to the flooding victims, and we must recognize and thank them for taking on that responsibility.
It is now time to show compassion and to refocus our priorities and look after those that cannot return to their homes or businesses. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I would ask the Minister of MACA to confirm what resources and support her department is providing to ensure those families in Jean Marie River, Fort Simpson, and Fort Good Hope have temporary accommodation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Housing Corporation and MACA have travelled together into the affected communities right now. We're looking at Jean Marie and Fort Simpson. We're waiting to get back the affected number of houses that have been impacted. The last conversation I did have with the mayor that there was 20 to 30 homes that were affected, and then I got another update that there was 10 homes that were affected, and then 6.
So I need the department to return back to Yellowknife so I could further look at the assessment that we are doing internally and looking at programming that we can offer to that community and looking at housing repair options. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
This government and the federal government had no problem rolling out financial support at the start of the pandemic. I expect that the same consideration for those victims impacted by the flooding. The reality is that events like this will quickly deplete one's own financial resources and leave many with nowhere to turn. It's up to this government to fill that gap.
Mr. Speaker, I would ask the Minister to confirm if her department is working with the Department of Education and the Department of Finance to look at providing individuals and families with some immediate financial support. And if not, will she commit to reaching out to those Ministers in coming up with a support program. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, the department is working very closely with both leaderships in each of the communities. And, also, I just wanted to go back to the first question, is that I forgot to mention that we do have evacuees that are still housed in Fort Providence that are from Jean Marie River until we're able to further look at renovations and improving their housing situation there in the community.
Also, we still have evacuees at Kelly Lake as well too and looking at, you know, further accommodations for them, also, looking at the local hotels in Fort Simpson as well too that we do have. But financial support that is being offered to the community membership, I will have to get back to the Member. Right now, the department is very concentrated on the repairing of the units so we can have people return to their homes comfortably. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, our government is touting the Disaster Assistant Program, which is not all that it appears to be. It has severe limitations with respect to the amount of compensation for damages. It is really a payor of last resort. It is not clear on how payments or reimbursements are to be made. There's no timeline for the payment or reimbursement. And all this can be confusing to someone who is traumatized and just looking to survive.
Mr. Speaker, can the Minister commit to employing and making program navigators accessible to those affected by the flooding? There will be many questions going forward on the process of assessments, compensation, temporary accommodation, temporary financial support, and some will need assistance to complete the forms as well.
And I would recommend that navigators be someone from the community and that the people are comfortable with. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I want to thank the Member for that question because we're actually working on that right now as well in looking, you know, at how can we further have that outreach to the affected residents in these in the flood risk communities. And, you know, just currently, right now, we have Fort Good Hope who has been affected as well, and we're waiting on to see what this is going to look like in the Beaufort Delta. So the navigator positions, we are looking at that. And hopefully the next little bit we'll be able to return back to Members with a positive response. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Hay River South.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With respect to the flooding victims, Michael McLeod, our MP for the NWT was quoted as saying, People can count on the federal government, that they will be there to help, and they will be there to help right to the end.
I will hold our Member of Parliament to the federal government to that promise. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister confirm what ongoing conversations are taking please between her department and the federal government, and do those conversations include immediate financial support to flood victims? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also want to commend the MP Mr. McLeod for reaching out and for working with us so strongly as well and leading our connections to the federal government and looking at the urgency for the Northwest Territories as well. And looking at the flood-affected communities, we do have a whole-of-government approach, that we do continue those conversations with the federal government.
And in that, that we are looking at the disaster application and what details are required. But not only that, as a minister responsible, I am looking at what can we provide right now and those financial outreaches as well too. But right now, I don't have an update to provide to the Member, but we are working at that internally. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Monfwi.
