Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are related to my Member's statement on housing and are for the housing minister.
Housing NT did not notify communities, nor residents, of the Rapid Housing Initiative Program despite the cries for help from all communities dealing with severe housing shortages. Can the Minister apprise this House, and the residents of the Northwest Territories, as to why Housing NT were not involved in the rollout of the Rapid Housing initiative in the NWT? Mahsi.
Thank you, Member for Deh Cho. Minister responsible for Housing NWT.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Member for asking the question as well too. Within the housing portfolio, I did create a position that was specifically would conduct the engagement between the Indigenous governments and the communities as well, and to be working with us, the stakeholders, NGOs, so they would have an opportunity to apply for federal funding. To date, we have been quite successful. There has been 17 applications throughout the Northwest Territories. And one of them had actually been submitted by the Member's riding, the Deh Gah Gotie Nation. They're receiving $4.8 million to construct 18 units and to be also looking at six duplexes from Housing NWT, and we'd be looking at transferring the six units over to the community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker, and mahsi to the Minister for that. She's mentioned only one community. And I've asked why, you know, it was for the whole of the Northwest Territories because there was many communities that were missed as per my Member's statement.
Mr. Speaker, although this may have been a federal program, shouldn't Housing NT be aware of any programs initiated by the federal government and received a head's up from the Liberal Member of Parliament for the Northwest Territories and also from the NWT senator? Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Member, and I wish I got that information as well too. I wish we had the direct contact that as soon as those federal programs are announced that we would be first on their list for them to contact. But unfortunately, we're not. So that's why the position was created so they can provide that communication between myself and the CMHC and Canada to work with the Northwest Territories so we know what programs are out there and what programs we actually can apply for. But to date, we have received funding directly to Housing NWT and then also to the Indigenous governments.
In my earlier statements, there is $600 million throughout the Northwest Territories that has been allocated to Indigenous governments with working with housing, with the federal government, in order for us to put houses on the ground. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I think the Minister's really missing my point on this whole my Member's statement alluded to the Rapid Housing programs and the fact that the Housing NT Minister and staff didn't do enough to ensure that every community was going to get some units, because I'm saying everybody's been crying for housing, especially in the Beaufort Delta where there's really hard to get at the communities of like Sachs Harbour, Paulatuk, and Ulukhaktok. And these were 100 percent dollars for homes that could have been given to people. And I ask housing, you know, why were they not aware of the program? And they did say they hired somebody so why didn't they jump on that, CMHC, about the programs?
I would like to know if the Housing NT Minister and staff had any contact with CIRNAC regional director or the CMHC office to have serious conversations about the severe housing shortages in all our communities? After all, it is a treaty right for most and a relocation right for others. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Member for the question. I just want to reiterate $600 million is here in the Northwest Territories for housing. Housing has travelled into the surrounding communities as well. We have established our community housing plans, which engages every single community in the Northwest Territories and looking at what their specific housing needs are. Right now in the Member's riding, Enterprise has completed their housing plan. Kakisa is in progress. And K'atlodeeche is completed. Fort Providence has not yet begun. And the reasoning for these community housing plans is a direct communication document between us and the federal government as well, Mr. Speaker.
And I want to say that within this portfolio, I've had several trips to Ottawa to specifically meet with Minister Vandal, Minister Hussen, and just recently Minister Shawn Fraser, and looking at the drastic needs for housing in the Northwest Territories. I feel that we've done significantly well throughout the North and working with Indigenous governments, also creating the Council of Leaders housing working table. Just want to say $600 million that has never been established in any of the years of this government and as long as we've existed. The last time we had a replenishment of housing units, Mr. Speaker, was in the 1970s. We made great progress. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Deh Cho.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. And mahsi to the Minister of housing for that. I'm not even certain I've seen $600 million in Housing NWT budgets. So I'm not sure. There's still severe shortage of housing. The Member from Nunakput is still crying for housing. And still nothing is happening up there.
Mr. Speaker, does the housing Minister and staff truly believe that offloading housing rental stock to Indigenous organizations is a profitable business venture? Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I just I want to correct the Member as well too. I don't want to say we're offloading units to Indigenous governments and to the smaller communities. These are business partnerships that we've engaged in conversation. The community is interested in some of our units. They want the unit transferred. And I am about working in partnership. Housing cannot solve the housing crisis on its own. We need the Indigenous governments at the table as well too.
And, Mr. Speaker, I just want to say that looking at what we've done so far, we've had a number of engagements throughout the Northwest Territories in addressing housing differently. If we're looking at repairing fuel tanks, if we're looking at repairing stairs, we do have a community housing initiative program there that the communities can apply to. Housing has been very active throughout this government, and I commend the work that housing has been doing. And there's believe me, there's a lot of work that still needs to be done. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Tu NedheWiilideh.
