Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the housing Minister tell us if she or Housing NWT has ever considered a seniors housing strategy for the NWT? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Minister responsible for Housing NWT.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The strategy that we had completed is for all the people throughout the Northwest Territories recognizing areas of improvement that we need to increase our services, increase our communication, and be really working with our partners throughout the territory. But we did make some changes to our seniors programming as well too where we do have the seniors aging in place program that was increased from $10,000 to $15,000. And we have also eliminated the copay for emergency repair for seniors. But we continue having the discussions throughout the Northwest Territories with the seniors societies and nonprofit organizations that do represent seniors, but I look forward to further collaboration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell us if a single flatrate rent system for seniors would work in the NWT? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I do agree with the Member, that we need to start looking at rental rates separately calculated for seniors throughout the Northwest Territories. Right now we are looking at our policy changes but this is not an ongoing, but I would like to take a look at our rental rate plan for 20232024 for that review, specifically concentrated on seniors, and also recognizing mobility issues and disabilities and just complicated issues that arise at that age that I want to consider that into the calculation of rent. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, would the Minister consider doing a pilot project of a flat rental system for seniors to test its usage in the NWT? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And before any pilot project, I would like to conduct an analysis throughout the Northwest Territories and specifically on seniors as well. And I do also appreciate the Member that providing, I think she gave me the number to this House, there's 2600 I want to say, approximately, seniors throughout the Northwest Territories, and the number is increasing after the age of 70. So I would like to look at the possibilities of a pilot and how we would further be looking at services and improving services for seniors throughout the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Thebacha.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, does the Minister believe that a new or modified disaster assistance policy tailored specifically to seniors would benefit the people of the NWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker?
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The disaster assistance policy is linked to federal programming and financial funding through the federal government. We don't necessarily have that policy within housing. And I don't know what the impacts would be I would have to work with my colleagues on this side and looking at what we can further provide when these disasters actually do happen. I do recognize there was a tornado that had happened in Fort Smith. It did affect one of the units. We do have the flood that had happened as well too. But working with my colleagues on this side, we could work together for a more collaborative approach recognizing what can we do differently within the disaster policy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.
