Debates of February 27, 2024 (day 11)

February
27
2024
Session
20th Assembly, 1st Session
Day
11
Speaker
Shane Thompson
Word PDF
Members Present
Hon. Caitlin Cleveland, Mr. Edjericon, Mr. Hawkins, Hon. Lucy Kuptana, Hon. Jay MacDonald, Hon. Vince McKay, Mr. McNeely, Ms. Morgan, Mr. Morse, Mr. Nerysoo, Ms. Reid, Hon. Lesa Semmler, Hon. R.J. Simpson, Mr. Testart, Mr. Thompson, Mrs. Weyallon Armstrong, Hon. Caroline Wawzonek, Mrs. Yakeleya
Assembly Members
Topics
Bill 3: Carbon Tax Repeal Act
Bill 5: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 20232024
Bill 5: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 20232024, Carried
Bill 5: Supplementary Appropriation Act, Infrastructure Expenditures, No. 3, 20232024, Carried
Committee Motion 3-20(1): Concurrence Motion - Tabled Document 29-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 4, 2023-2024, Carried
Member’s Statement 117-20(1): Pharmacists’ Scope of Practice
Member’s Statement 118-20(1): Daylight Savings Time
Member’s Statement 119-20(1): Housing Priorities and the Future of Housing Northwest Territories
Member’s Statement 120-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Position Vacancies
Member’s Statement 121-20(1): Economic Impacts of Upcoming Closure of Northwest Territories Mines
Member’s Statement 122-20(1): Giant Mine Remediation Project Workforce
Member’s Statement 123-20(1): Developing Remediation Skills in Sahtu
Member’s Statement 124-20(1): Alcohol and Drugs in Northwest Territories Communities
Member’s Statement 125-20(1): Supports for Persons with Disabilities
Member’s Statement 126-20(1): Holistic Healing for Indigenous Communities
Member’s Statement 127-20(1): Extended Health Benefits
Member’s Statement 128-20(1): Hay River Events
Member’s Statement 129-20(1): 2024 Arctic Winter Games
Minister’s Statement 24-20(1): Health Human Resources Recruitment and Retention
Minister’s Statement 25-20(1): Revitalization of the Great Slave Lake Fishery
Minister’s Statement 26-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Health, Safety and Wellness Policy
Motion 22-20(1): Extended Adjournment of the House to May 23, 2024
Motion 23-20(1): Call to Uphold Human Rights in Gaza
Petition 1-20(1): Ceasefire and End to Canadian Support for the Plausible Genocide in Gaza
Question 114-20(1): Draft Order for Wildfire Inquiry
Question 115-20(1): Support for Mineral Exploration and Extraction
Question 116-20(1): Daylight Savings Time
Question 117-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Position Vacancies
Question 118-20(1): Pharmacists’ Scope of Practice
Question 119-20(1): Closure and Remediation of the Norman Wells Oil Field
Question 120-20(1): Giant Mine Remediation Project Workforce
Question 121-20(1): Policies and Future of Housing Northwest Territories
Question 122-20(1): Income Assistance for Persons with Disabilities
Question 123-20(1): Healthy Living in Northwest Territories Communities
Question 124-20(1): Extended Health Benefits
Question 125-20(1): Meeting Future Electricity Needs
Question 126-20(1): Income Assistance for Persons with Disabilities
Question 127-20(1): Policies and Future of Housing Northwest Territories
Recorded Vote
Tabled Document 48-20(1): Aurora College Annual Report 2022-2023
Tabled Document 49-20(1): Northwest Territories and Nunavut Lotteries Operations Annual Report 2022-2023
Written Question 2-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Public Sector Positions
Statements

Member’s Statement 119-20(1): Housing Priorities and the Future of Housing Northwest Territories

This is just making me tired now.

Laughter

Mr. Speaker, I want to follow up on my statement yesterday concerning our new housing priorities and speak to the future of the Housing NWT. As we move towards a future government on collaboration, I mentioned yesterday how Indigenous governments need to take control over the new housing programs at the local level. Today I want to expand upon why the government's current housing and policies does not work for Indigenous people here in the Northwest Territories and to see what the government is thinking for longterm solutions so that we can transition Indigenous housing into the hands of Indigenous governments.

Housing NWT is not working for Indigenous people. Too many families are being evicted or are forced to live in overcrowded poor condition housing. Many more are awaiting for a buy low renovation and the waitlists for homes is far too long.

Indigenous governments would not let this happen to their people. They want the ability to make housing work for them with the money that is allocated for Indigenous housing by the federal Government of Canada. There's a lot of anxiety over the fact that in 2038, federal housing corporation, Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation, will cease with funding through Housing NWT. That's just in 14 years. We'll have to find a whole new way of delivering housing in the Northwest Territories. This is a challenge but also an opportunity to create a collaborative government approach as spoken by this Premier.

There are many creative and cooperative ways we can change the housing system for Indigenous people and their communities, but we need to start working together towards this goal now. Regardless of how fixed our delivery of housing is today, we know that just 14 years to get a solution in place. I hope when I ask the Minister of housing later today that this Assembly will get a clear picture of their plans to deliver on housing after 2038. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Member from Tu NedheWiilideh. Members' statements. Member from Inuvik Boot Lake.