Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As you know from all my previous Member's statements, I've always advocated for community-based programs that will benefit the community. This is no different. I want the best outcome for communities of the Mackenzie Delta.
I would like to know if the Minister or her department has had any discussions with the Indigenous governments, with either Aklavik, Fort McPherson, Tsiigehtchic, in reference to collaborating to renovate vacant units within their respective communities? Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Mackenzie Delta. The Minister for Housing NWT.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Member for the question. Housing NWT has not had direct discussions with community governments at this time in Fort McPherson, Aklavik, or Tsiigehtchic. We have had regional discussions with Indigenous governments but no specific discussions at this time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I always, you know, want the best for the communities and dealing directly with communities rather than regional is my preference. Does the Minister or her department know how much vacant units are in each of the communities that can be renovated and occupied as soon as possible in the Mackenzie Delta? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And with the reference to working directly with community governments, we can do that. We can talk, and we can have discussions.
In terms of vacant units and those that could be renovated and have a move-in phase, I mean, we can look at that and provide those numbers to the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you to the Minister. Will the Minister look at working with the Indigenous governments and provide some financial resources to renovate some of these vacant units so some of these residents can have homes with their families?
Mr. Speaker, at this time I think that we'd be willing to work with anyone interested in advancing housing in the Northwest Territories. So if a local Indigenous government is willing to talk to us, meet with us, they have ideas, of course we'd be willing to work together. We do have some SEED money that we can partner with to look at potential federal funds, so we're willing to do that. So thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister for Housing NWT. Final supplementary. Member from Mackenzie Delta.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That's great news. Can the Minister look at working with other departments, such as Education, Culture and Employment, to create projects where we can train some of our residents to gain work experience and at the same time provide them much needed housing within our communities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister of education could take this question as well. She's a big part of it, and she's the one advancing the work with the other departments.
But, yes, this is something that we talk about often, how we can work together as departments, looking at bringing in advancing capacity, looking at more apprenticeships throughout the North, and just the entire labour workforce, how we can help boost that -- the workforce throughout the North. So, yes, we're willing to do that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Minister for Housing NWT. Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife North.
