Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As is in our mandate, I would like to ask the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation if she has had any discussions about changing housing repair programs to accommodate aging in place with her staff. Thank you.
The Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, actually. The NWT Housing Corporation is actually looking at all of our programs to see if we can make access to the programs easier, to assist in things such as land tenure. That's been an issue within the communities, so we are looking to see if we can take that out. As well, just to give notification that the NWT Housing Corporation will be sending out, in April, a survey to all of the LHOs, to all community workers, or to people that are using public housing to see what programs are working well and what we need to change, and then we will develop a plan going forward based on that information. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I'm interested in aging in place as a concept or idea. So, specific to that, I recognize that there may be a need to change many of the housing programs. However, I was particularly interested if there have been any discussions beyond just conceptual, but discussions to a point maybe the staff are looking at some money that may be put into aging in place. Has the Minister had any discussions monetarily about how much money could be put in the budget for aging in place?
On March 10th, I will be meeting with the federal housing Minister to talk about the social infrastructure money that may be coming to the Territories. Once the federal budget is defined, then we will be able to put forward cases to look at that issue.
There was going to be a question of mine on the federal commitment. However, after March 10th, after the Minister meets with her federal counterpart, what type of plan is there in place to roll up the communications for people, so people understand what is available from the Housing Corporation in the area of aging in place?
Part of the process that we will be looking for consultation from the communities on changes to the Housing Corporation will include a summary of all of the programs, a two-page summary, very basic, very plain. Within that, we are looking to help people understand what we have and what we need to change. After we get award from the federal government, at that point we will be looking at doing a communication strategy so that people understand what programs are available.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm not sure that we had ruled out our mandate relying on federal commitments on social infrastructure in order to move forward with our mandate. In our mandate, we say aging in place is a priority. I gave some of the numbers here on why it should be a priority, the amount of money we would save even in the capital construction or just in the people who are in long-term care now versus what it would cost to keep people at home, the health of the individuals, the elders that remain in their own homes, and so on. I am interested in that. Have there been discussions on aging in place, not all the programs on aging in place, with the staff from the Minister? Thank you.
Absolutely. Yes, there have been discussions on aging in place. The GNWT is really supportive of our seniors and supportive of them living within their communities and within their homes and families as long as possible. That is a priority for us. We have talked many times about the incidence of seniors increasing, and so we will be developing a plan to be able to support aging in place as long as possible.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
