Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We all agree housing is a challenge and sometimes we have to face the facts that we need to start doing things different by being innovative. Mr. Speaker, we cannot wait for others. That's the hallmark for failure. I say to the GNWT, to the Premier, it's time to be bold and innovative because if politicians are acting like bureaucrats, you know, who's leading the public service?
Mr. Speaker, let's be fearless and be bold. Let's shake the system up and break free of this mediocrity. Mr. Speaker, stop pumping the brakes on innovation. I'm going to give two examples of how we can change the narrative or the story of housing here in the Northwest Territories.
For example Rockhill, back in October 2018, burned to the ground. It's an unfortunate experience that affected 13 families. Mr. Speaker, that property has essentially sat vacant for years. I say let's think outside the box. With some conditions based on public good, Mr. Speaker, I say give the property away. Let's be innovative. Let's create proposals and tell industry to come forward. Create an opportunity for people who do design of buildings, create homes, gives opportunities for families to live safely and grow. How could we do this? We could say things like, for example, in our proposal, you must show public good, you must demonstrate a certain amount to, say, public rent that's targeted at people with low incomes. Again, social responsibility. Let's not miss opportunities. That property has been emptied or flat and ready to go for at least the last five years. People want that property, Mr. Speaker, to build homes. There's our chance.
Mr. Speaker, the second idea and I want to stress not in isolation without consultation the GNWT could swiftly change its rules by eliminating permitting fees for buildings. And I say that because other areas in Canada have waived permit fees to stimulate the economy.
The other aspect is automatic approvals. Mr. Speaker, I've got a lot more to say on this one, but time runs quickly on the Member's statement. But the important part is we need to set up conditions that work to get people building. If a building or property is designed that meets engineering and architectural and, of course, municipal zoning bylaw rules, it should be automatically approved.
Mr. Speaker, these are just fresh ideas, but they're not new ideas. Let's be exciting and reach out and solve some of our housing problems by being part of the solution, not part of the problem. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Members' statements. Member from Kam Lake.
