Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Members' statements. Member for Tu NedheWiilideh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's no secret that the NWT is experiencing a housing crisis. Furthermore, it's nothing new. Our residents, particularly Indigenous people, have been struggling to find safe and affordable homes for decades with little progress made by this past government. Last year, the GNWT received $60 million to help solve the housing crisis. At the time, the Honourable Premier described this investment as a drop in the bucket. I agree entirely, considering the federal government has taken steps to double its total rate of new homes construction over the next ten years. In the North, our costs are higher, our communities are greater needs, and homeownership is out of reach for so very many. Housing NWT is slow to respond to requests for housing from First Nations leaders and its programs will remain basically unchanged. We need to stop doing the same thing and expecting a different result. This government needs a new approach to housing investment that makes First Nations equal partners in delivering new homes for NWT residents.
Mr. Speaker, in December of last year, the Dene Nation noted that the GNWT had spent $30 million of federal funding towards fixing up public housing without any engagement or collaboration with First Nations. Furthermore, the Dene Nation passed a resolution calling for an immediate discussion with Dene leaders to reallocate the remaining federal housing funds to First Nation governments. The Premier is aware of this resolution as she received correspondence from the Dene Nation on December 19th, 2022; a letter I will table later today.
I've said it again, and I'll say it again. First Nations are in the best position to understand the housing needs in their communities and ought to be the ones making decisions around public housing dollars. It is time the GNWT took the message to heart and work with Dene leadership to solve the housing crisis in a collaborative and holistic fashion. Nothing for us without us is something that I've heard from the Premier say in the past. Now I'm asking that she lives up to those words and act immediately to consult and collaborate with the First Nations and make real progress on the housing crisis before the end of this term. Mr. Speaker, I will have some questions for the Deputy Premier at the appropriate time. Mahsi.
Thank you, Member for Tu NedheWiilideh. Members' statements. Member for Monfwi.
