Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the last sitting I moved a motion for the Government of the Northwest Territories to recognize housing as a human right. Mr. Speaker, I believe that housing is a human right because without housing, there's no foundation. Without a place to call home, there's no structure, no stability. How can we expect people to go to school, participate in the workforce, or raise their families, to live freely, if they are inadequately housed?
Mr. Speaker, acknowledging housing as a human right implies that the government has to implement policies and programs to ensure the right to housing for all residents within the shortest possible timeframe. It also recognizes that programs and policies need to address those in greatest need the homeless.
The mandate of the 20th Assembly has prioritized housing. This government has committed to increase housing availability, to collaborate with partners and Indigenous governments, to reduce homelessness and increase sustainable housing.
I want to acknowledge the Minister of housing is working in collaboration with Indigenous governments to address the housing crisis, and this is very positive. Mr. Speaker, I believe the Minister of housing is moving in the right direction. However, Mr. Speaker, the federal government has recognized in legislation that housing is essential to the inherent dignity and wellbeing of a person, and I see no reason why the Government of the Northwest Territories cannot do the same.
Mr. Speaker, we should be able to acknowledge that without housing, our people have nothing. Our housing policies and programs should be measured how well we are achieving the right to housing for all residents of the NWT. I will have questions for the Minister of housing later today.
Thank you, Member from the Deh Cho. Members' statements. Member from Monfwi.
