Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, would the housing Minister consider transferring ownership of all housing units in the Tlicho region and other regions as well that are owned by housing NWT to the longterm tenants? Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Minister responsible for Housing NWT.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Member for asking the question. This is an opportunity for our current tenants that are occupying our public housing units. We do have a homeownership program here in the Northwest Territories that recognizes our longterm tenants as well. And through that program, we have a three to five year forgivable loan program that we have established. To date, we had 40 interested applicants, and we've approved 20 of them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, many of these houses are old, like, they're from 60s, 70. I just want to ask the Minister what are they using to determine to sell to transfer those units. Is it assessed value, or fair market value. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With the sale of these units, we do consider the age and condition of these units as well too. We do get into the communities and we complete housing assessment as well. Some of these units do require improvements, and we do provide that opportunity as well too the tenants that we would we would look at repairs and renovations prior to transfer. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister confirm if housing NWT is afraid to let go of or sell any of its assets, such as its aging housing stock because the department is department is afraid to lose any operations and maintenance funding. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No, this is not an issue within housing. This has not been brought up. We do have a hundred unit roll out that has that is now we see construction in the smaller communities right now. We have been working very strongly as well with the Indigenous governments throughout the Northwest Territories addressing the housing knees as well. My drive within the portfolio is to get rid of the communities that were built in the 1970s and look for clients that are able to maintain and operate their own units as well with whatever supports that we are able to provide. I welcome all those applications coming forward, and look forward to tenants that are wanting to have the units transferred and become homeowners. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Monfwi.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At this time, there are a lot of housing from the 60s and 70s that are being that are being renovated at this time. Instead of doing that, what the Minister should be doing is focusing on building more houses. So with that, Mr. Speaker, it appears that housing NWT has some competing interest here. On the one hand, they claim they want to increase homeownership across the NWT, and they want to create partnership with Indigenous governments, but they are also afraid to receive a reduction in O and M funding and are therefore hesitant to sell, to sell off any of their existing aging housing stock. Can the Minister clarify what housing NWT priorities are. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Housing has been working very strongly with the Indigenous governments throughout the territory. We were able to acquire distinctionbased funding. We do have working tables with specific Indigenous groups and governments throughout the Northwest Territories that welcome us to be working with them handinhand. And also housing is not afraid of the declining CMHC funding is there. The opportunity oh out there for us to get new builds on the ground. We're looking for strategic new innovative ideas. We are working at the local housing authority level as well too with the smaller communities. And we do have strong representation at that level. We just finished our strategic renewal that invites all opinions, ideas that we have taken throughout the Northwest Territories to work more strongly with our tenant and is to work more strongly with our communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Written questions. Returns to written questions. Oh sorry, Member for Yellowknife Centre.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to return to item four on the order paper, recognition of visitors in the gallery.
Thank you, Member for Yellowknife Centre. The Member is seeking unanimous consent to return to item four. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
