Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to for the record, to talk about the housing stability worker for Fort Smith and the South Slave. And I want to ask the Minister about this because I think the person has to have certain criteria. The criteria should be a person without judgement, a neutral person, a person who can navigate underprivileged clients in getting through the system for housing, and therefore it should not be it should not be a person who is part of the Housing NWT office in Hay River. It should have a separate office. And that's the way that's the only way we would solve the problems. I wonder if the Minister would agree with me on that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Minister responsible for Housing NWT.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Premier had just tabled a document in regards to homelessness as well too, and this is one of the actions through this strategy as well too. But looking at how we would be looking at a housing stability worker, that is a conversation that we are having throughout the territory as well. And I do agree with the Member that having this position not housed within housing and looking at further opportunities is what I would like to see. I like the innovative approach, and I would like to see the communities take more of a stronger partnership with us when we're addressing housing in the communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, you know, strong leadership with such a need within the whole Northwest Territories for the underprivileged that do not have housing is a mandate of ours, and I want to make sure that the person that is allocated to these positions are completely neutral and without judgement and navigate the system. Strong leadership within leadership with elected officials is extremely important and must give direction. And I want to know if the Minister agrees with me? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, yes, I do agree with the Member with this approach as well. We've tried this in the Tlicho and looking at our successes and doing business differently and addressing housing differently as well. We've initiated this through the distinctionbased funding and working with Indigenous governments. We've also done this with our community housing plans and identifying significant drastic needs at the community level, and I feel that this approach is where we need to start strategizing and start thinking. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Only when we do these kind of changes will I regain my confidence in Housing NWT, because I feel that the underprivileged and some of the situations that I tried to navigate through in the last four years have not been dealt with, and I feel that change is with oversight, neutrality, no judgement, and making sure that the underprivileged are looked after. Would the Minister agree with me? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And yes, I do agree with the Member. I think we should have this approach throughout the Northwest Territories. And within the four years, I know that it's been quite challenging for this government and for the communities to see a lot of progress within this portfolio, but we do have the renewal that has been brought forward as well too, and we do have the policy changes, the energy strategy has been brought forward. And with that approach, I'm looking to seeing housing approach and do things differently and recognizing work with the communities a lot more closely, and I would like to see decisions made at the local level and bringing those up to our table and right here into the Assembly for our discussion so we can make sure that we do work productively with our communities and within this government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think that this navigator housing navigator with a neutral approach would be the answer to some of the issues that many of us have been bringing forward. Especially myself, I felt that I didn't get this is the one file that I feel that many times that I failed on. As a very strong I feel like a strong MLA who navigates for people who have not been treated fairly within the system. And I still feel that way. And with the new policy that has come out for homelessness and all that, I hope that changes, and I look forward to change. And I think it should be a priority for us before we finish this session, this next session in August. Thank you. Would the Minister agree with me on that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And yes, I do agree with the Member, absolutely. And when I had this portfolio, I wanted to see significant changes. I do come from a smaller community. And I do come home, and I see these struggles right at the ground level, right from homelessness to outdated mortgages to mold in houses. And, you know, do we have the budget to address each and every one of these issues? This government and this portfolio has a hundred-unit rollout. And I know it doesn't seem as significant, but we Mr. Speaker, we haven't had a replenishment of units in the last four decades. And with the collaboration with the Indigenous governments, I brought forward the messaging from housing is that, you know, if you're not going to if the federal government is not going to fund the territorial government, then fund the Indigenous governments directly, recognize those federal agreements, recognize those negotiations that are going on. And with that, successfully we were able to see approximately $650,000 coming to the Northwest Territories but directly going to the Indigenous governments, and we work with them side by side, Mr. Speaker. But one thing I don't agree with is the Member did not fail with the approach and working with us. She has brought this portfolio to a different level where we are thinking differently. A lot of her advocacy has contributed to the policy changes, and I appreciate all of those comments coming forward. Thank you so much. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Hay River South.
