Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as a method to reduce arrears, can the Minister commit to establishing a periodic verification of income options for tenants. Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Minister responsible for Housing NWT.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't I would like to follow up with the Member as well. Yes, I would like to follow up with the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you. What local housing organization staff training is required on culturally respectful communication and developing relationship with Indigenous people. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Member for the question. And my apologies that I just requested to follow up with the Member because I didn't I just needed the question to be clarified. But I'll follow up with her separately. Thank you.
Right now we are going through a policy review right throughout housing. We've got 41 policy reviews that are currently happening. Cultural sensitivity is something that will be that will be included in the training for the local housing authorities as well. During this time that I've had the portfolio, I've also recognized language barriers were also an issue. So that will also be addressed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you. According to the 2021 Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Annual Report, rent arrears were forgiven in Behchoko and Whati. Why were no arrears forgiven in Wekweeti and for Gameti. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you for the Member for asking the question as well too because we do go through a lengthy process when we're looking at forgiving accounts. They usually would have to do with very extreme circumstances and situations. I can follow up with the Member as well too for just a further description on how that process works. We also have to abide by and report to the department of Finance and to this government as well too. There is a lengthy process for us to be looking at those accounts. Some of them are denied, and some of them are approved. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Monfwi.
Mr. Speaker, majority of the people majority of the Indigenous people are living in public units; therefore, it is important for housing employees to be Indigenous. I want to ask the Minister what are they doing to build the capacity. What is the Housing NWT doing to build their capacity? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And also I just want to comment too that, you know, the numbers that we do have for Indigenous employees is quite high throughout housing. We do have the local housing authorities as well in the smaller communities. Majority of our budget is allocated to smaller communities. Also here in headquarters, I don't have the number with me on hand, but I can also provide that further information to the Member as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Hay River South.
