Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, residents have noticed a significant increase in illegal activities across the territory and within public housing. In particular, there has been an increase in drug use and sales. I am concerned that this behaviour is a risk to public safety, especially to elders and children in our communities. Local housing organizations are actively looking for ways to address and report drug use and sales in public housing by working with the RCMP, the rental office, and residents.
Proving illegal activity can be challenging. Witnesses may be too frightened to formally complain for fear of retaliation. I am calling on Members of the Legislative Assembly and residents to report illegal activity in public housing so that local housing organizations can address the issues and help keep residents safe. Housing NWT has limited options to address illegal activity, but that is slowly changing. Last year, local housing organizations met with the RCMP and have built a relationship that allows the RCMP to share information that can support expedited rental office hearings. As a result, the Inuvik Housing Authority has been successful in obtaining expedited rental office hearings due to illegal activity in public housing units.
But make no mistake, Mr. Speaker, Housing NWT does not evict tenants on a whim. Evictions are the last action in a long process seeking to address non-compliance with a tenancy agreement. At each stage of the eviction process, Housing NWT staff work collaboratively with tenants to recommend appropriate support services. If a tenant takes corrective action to follow their tenancy agreement, they can avoid eviction. If the agreed-upon actions are adhered to, the local housing organization may amend the application to the rental officer and continue to work with the tenant.
Mr. Speaker, people on waiting lists for public housing deserve fair treatment. Allowing tenants who continue to cause disturbances to stay in public housing after the rental officer has ruled that the tenancy should end is unfair to other people who are waiting to access public housing.
In the 2023-2024 fiscal year, the rental officer issued 63 eviction orders to public housing tenants. 18 tenants were evicted. Of those evictions, three were evicted under section 46 of the Residential Tenancies Act for illegal activities, and 13 of the evictions were due to disturbances.
As I mentioned earlier, illegal activity can be hard for local housing organizations to prove, but they often go hand-in-hand with repeated disturbances, which could lead to eviction.
So far, this fiscal year, there have been seven evictions from public housing. Two of those evictions were due to illegal activity, and three were due to disturbances.
Mr. Speaker, the 20th Legislative Assembly is committed to keeping residents and communities safe. We will continue to do this with the support of the RCMP, local housing organizations, the rental office, and communities. Quyananni, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister responsible for Housing NWT. Ministers' statements. Minister for the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission.
