Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The communities of Aklavik and Fort McPherson have been struggling for the last two years with providing housing for their teachers. My questions are for the Minister of Education. Are there plans to increase the amount of funding of $25,000 available to the communities to provide staff housing for teachers? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Blake. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. This particular program is under review within the NWT Housing Corporation and that information will be shared with the Members once it’s available. But it is under the Housing Corporation, the $25,000 earmarked for those particular programs. Mahsi.
My next question is: Will the Department of Education be willing to sign a long-term lease with the communities to provide staff housing for teachers?
I like those direct questions. I’ll try to give him a direct answer. The direct answer is that we’ve gotten out of long-term lease agreements on the housing for staff. Now we’re talking about the Shelter Policy that’s before us. It’s under review and there will be discussion that will take place with respect to housing for staff, housing for community members, and there will be more discussion with the standing committee. Mahsi.
The 17th Assembly has prioritized education. I just wanted to note that. Is the Minister willing to work with the communities and myself to resolve the issue of housing for teachers? Thank you.
I would say yes. We need to work with all communities to deal with the housing for staff, especially the teachers. That’s under my portfolio. Education is one of the goals and objectives of this Assembly, and I’ll definitely work closely with the NWT Housing Corporation to identify the needs of the communities when it comes to housing for staff. Mahsi.
Thank you to the Minister for that. I look forward to that response. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Blake. The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Moses.
