Debates of October 28, 2022 (day 128)

Date
October
28
2022
Session
19th Assembly, 2nd Session
Day
128
Members Present
Hon. Diane Archie, Mr. Bonnetrouge, Hon. Paulie Chinna, Ms. Cleveland, Hon. Caroline Cochrane, Hon. Julie Green, Mr. Jacobson, Mr. Johnson, Ms. Martselos, Ms. Nokleby, Mr. O’Reilly, Ms. Semmler, Hon. R.J. Simpson, Mr. Rocky Simpson, Hon. Shane Thompson, Hon. Caroline Wawzonek, Ms. Weyallon-Armstrong.
Topics
Statements

Question 1249-19(2): Housing

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, we did a tour two years ago, and with the Minister's committed in a public meeting that we'd be working with a family to get them into a House. And to this date, I guess we could blame COVID, I guess, in not getting it done.

Madam Speaker, will the Minister commit today in putting a couple in Paulatuk who are living in a tent with a baby in a home before Halloween? I guess it said Christmas, but I want it ASAP. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Speaker: DEPUTY SPEAKER

Thank you, Member. Minister for NWT Housing.

Thank you, Madam Speaker, and thank you to the Member for his question. And I really sympathize with the Member as well too and also with the LHO and our function in smaller communities as well. Right now I don't know what units we do have available in the community of Paulatuk, I'm sure that the Member was referencing. And it is a priority of this portfolio to be housing people that are most in need, and I will follow up with the Member. But unfortunately right now I don't have the amount of units that are available in Paulatuk. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I spoke to the mayor this morning. There's one unit available in Paulatuk and is ready to be moved in. So I'm just wondering if it's like, and this couple's first on the waiting list I'm told. So I'm wondering if the Minister could approach see if the LHO in the community is available to put them into the unit ASAP or as soon as possible, because it's really in need. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I will follow up with the Member. I'm not familiar with the unit that is available and the condition that the unit may be in and why the unit may be vacant. But just to acknowledge the Member, as well too for the community of Paulatuk, they will be receiving four units in 20232024. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, with the current situation we have in Paulatuk for lack of housing, would the Minister be willing to work with the community in regards to with our community leadership which is coming down next week to meet with them to hear their concerns and what's happening with the local housing authority in the community. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yes, I will follow up with the community leadership as well. And I just also wanted to acknowledge that Paulatuk was one of our first communities to complete our community housing plans, and Housing did work very closely with the community and also funded that program as well too. But, yes, I would like to follow up with the leadership as well. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Speaker: DEPUTY SPEAKER

Thank you. Final supplementary. Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Would the Minister commit on doing a community tour of Nunakput with me to hear the concerns of the people in Nunakput on shortage of housing and the situations that we're all dealing with on different problems with different communities? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. And just looking at our schedules that we do have in the next few months that I would like to follow up with the Member to look at the availability as well too. But not only that, I would like to connect with the Indigenous governments in the Member's riding as well too to get a further update on how, and what progress has been made in regards to putting housing on the ground and give them a further update on the partnership that we've been successfully working towards. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Speaker: DEPUTY SPEAKER

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.