Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the majority of my constituents are First Nations, signatories to Treaty 8 and 11 with the Government of Canada in 1899 and 1921. In those treaties, promises were made to continue existing unhindered and of cultural pursuits, and with the most treaties, there were certain promises that were made including education, health, and housing just to name a few. Those promises are what we call today fiduciary obligations for program and services for housing. This is a brief historical perspective.
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Our people were nomadic, they travelled in the bush, they lived in the bush, and eventually our children were taken away. They were forced to go to school. At about that point, the GNWT took over housing and generalized programs as public housing. The current view of the housing programs is that there's program services and policies for housing and what we call a fiduciary obligation. In that view, the GNWT has a responsibility at providing adequate housing to First Nations and all residents of the NWT. Within that policy initiative too, family units are separated and categorized in terms of needs and policy eligibility with focus on some primary family unit of parents and children, to ensure wellness and a healthy lifestyles. It is I hope the aspiration of this government for those people, families, to own their own homes. The seniors don’t have homes, the young people are living in apartments, and some people don’t even have a place to sleep. People that have been evicted or have arrears and no possibility of accessing their own homes are left to build their own shacks or houses, often on the titled property of their parents or relatives. There are some parts of communities that could be compared to shantytowns for tent frames and shacks that popped up. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Hay River North.
