Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The Northwest Territories Housing Corporation has approximately 2,400 public rental units spread out over the NWT. Let's say, for brevity, the units each consume approximately 1,200 litres of diesel fuel per month. The total for the year for 2,400 public rental units is approximately 34.5 million litres of diesel fuel consumed every year. If you were to stick a dollar figure on that, we use an average of a dollar per litre. We are looking at $34.5 million per year from the use of diesel fuel. Mr. Speaker, I would like the Minister to commit to developing an energy action plan for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation that will reduce the use of fossil fuels and incorporate wood pellet boilers in the public rental units. Mahsi.
Thank you, Member for Deh Cho. Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, Member, for your comments. Working on the energy plan for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation is a priority. Right now, we have $3.9 million under the Low Carbon Economy Fund that we worked on with the Department of Infrastructure to try to alleviate the utilities and the oil and gas within our public housing units. We have also had biomass projects throughout the Northwest Territories. We do have 2,600 units throughout the territory. The Housing Corporation is working toward administering more energy efficiency within those public housing units. I will commit to developing a plan. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
That is good news to hear. We are constantly reminded of the date 2038. Nobody knows in the communities, the Indigenous communities, what that date really means. Most people are in fear of that date, that they will have no more units available for rent, for housing of our people, because every year from now until that date the funding from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, the CMHC, will deplete until there is no more funding available for operations and maintenance on that date. Will the Minister act now in developing an energy action plan to extend the public rental housing program beyond 2038?
Thank you, Member, for your comment. My answer, as I just reiterated, is: yes, we will be working towards an energy action plan.
It's nice to hear that again. I look forward to the energy action plan that is innovative in the use of our natural resources and that creates employment for our communities. It is much-needed employment, and I really look forward to that report. Hopefully, it's not going to be too far into the future, that we will have something in front of us for review.
Thank you. I will let the Minister respond. Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation.
Thank you, Member, for your comments. Like I said before, energy efficiency is a priority of the Housing Corporation in developing our units. I do recognize that we have declining CMHC funding as of 2038, and the Housing Corporation is working strategically on what we are going to be working with after the 2038 mark has come. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.
