Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to talk about the future for public housing in the Tlicho region.
Mr. Speaker, it is a priority of the 20th Legislative Assembly to ensure sustainable financial resources for housing programs and projects. When we talk about public housing, we mean programs that provide income-based rental housing for the residents most in need, like elders and families with little or no income. But residents are saying NWT Housing is not functioning the way it is supposed to.
Yesterday, Behchoko Ko Gha K'aodee held a public hearing on housing in Behchoko. Residents had a lot of feedback for NWT Housing. There were complaints that policies and procedures were not being followed; there are not enough tenant relations officers to assist residents; and, the waiting list for the community of Behchoko has over 130 people on it. Mr. Speaker, one resident put it this way: Why would housing board members have a meeting when there is no available housing to allocate to people? The waiting list needs to be cleared.
Mr. Speaker, I understand that the Government of the Northwest Territories has different programs in place to help with these types of programs, like the homelessness assistance fund. I know the Minister of housing has committed in the past to reviewing instances where tenants have arrears on a case-by-case basis. We need to do more.
I would like to know the plan for public housing in Behchoko, Mr. Speaker. The housing stock is old. A family of seven in my riding have said that their unit has mold. Other houses are boarded up. With the other problems tenants discussed yesterday, it's too much. People want to know what the plan is. I will have questions for the Minister of housing at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member. Next on my list I have is the Member from the Deh Cho.
