Mr. Speaker, I want the Minister to succeed and do well with her portfolio. My hope is that the Minister will hear my critiques and work with the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation to improve its client services at the Fort Smith Housing Authority. We are still in a pandemic. Threats, last-chance letters, and eviction notices must stop. My constituents who are reliant on public housing must be treated fairly and with respect. Does the Minister agree? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Client service is a priority of the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. I appreciate the Member bringing this forward. It's an ongoing situation that I am dealing with at the local housing authority level. We have had the opportunity for employees to take part in client service training. I do see that there is a significant need for this, and my apologies to the Member that she is experiencing these bad client services within her riding. I will be working with my department and also will be working really strongly with LHO in Fort Smith. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Will the Minister acknowledge that systemic racism does occur within the NWT Housing Corporation and that it must be addressed?
I'm very dismayed to hear about systemic racism happening within the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation with our front-line staff at the local housing authority. I'm going to be working very strongly with my department, and this is something that is absolutely not acceptable within the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.
Can the Minister tell us what the current Northwest Territories Housing Corporation protocol is in dealing with client complaints about management at local housing authorities?
The Housing Corporation does have our front-line staff, the local housing authorities, and they are our front-line workers at the community level for complaints coming forward, for them to be addressing them at that level, and for the board to review those complaints. At this moment and at this time, I would direct my headquarters staff to be dealing directly with the local housing authorities. Now, it's come to the Minister's level, and it's going to be addressed significantly. This is something that I'm not going to pass by very likely. Client service is number one, it's a priority within my portfolio and what I'd like to display, strong client service and leadership.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Thebacha.
Mr. Speaker, it's good to see the Minister say she will do X, Y, and Z, but it means nothing if there is no follow-up by the Minister to ensure these things get done right. Will the Minister commit to doing regular follow-ups with her department to ensure her instructions are being properly followed? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
At this point, the concern for client service within the local housing authorities will be addressed. I will have a follow-up with the Member, as well, dealing specifically with her riding. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.
