Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to talk about an issue that is important to the maintenance of the public housing stock. I am speaking about the damage to public housing units and the costs to the local housing organizations and Housing NWT. I want to highlight how this damage impacts the work plan of the local housing organizations and Housing NWT.
Housing NWT and local housing organizations strive to support tenants to be successful. Part of that success relies on the tenant keeping up with their responsibilities. This includes taking care of their unit, keeping it clean, and preventing damage. If a tenant or their guest causes damage, the tenant is responsible for the repairs. Let me be clear, this does not apply to normal wear and tear. We are talking about major damage like broken windows in a public housing unit. Local housing organizations do their best to provide services as quickly as possible if a unit is compromised due to damage. However, avoidable damage that requires a contractor can be both costly and take time to repair. And if this damage occurs during the winter season, both the tenant and the Housing Organization are under pressure to find appropriate accommodation and a speedy repair. This also takes funding away from other repairs that are needed in public housing units.
Under the Residential Tenancies Act, Housing NWT is responsible for maintenance and repairs on its buildings while tenants are responsible for covering the costs of damages caused by themselves, their pets, or visitors. Tenants are also required to notify the landlord if there are any problems with the property. For example, if something breaks or if there is a health or safety problem, tenants must let the local housing organization know as soon as possible. Tenants must take this responsibility seriously. We can all agree that maintaining good quality housing stock is extremely important, especially with the housing situation across the territory. The more damage caused, the longer the wait times to repair the unit as well as the higher cleaning and repair costs. Housing NWT aims to preserve the quality and longevity of our units, ensuring that they remain safe, comfortable, and in good condition for all tenants for years to come.
Mr. Speaker, I also want to talk about the damage that other people are causing to public housing units. We are seeing damage like broken windows and graffiti that is not being caused by the public housing tenants or their guests. When windows are broken or units are damaged, it takes time and money to fix - time and money that could be going towards completing other essential repairs inside of these homes. It also makes our communities look run down when we have boarded-up windows and homes in disrepair.
This both saddens and frustrates me, Mr. Speaker. We need to take pride in our communities and not cause unnecessary damage. We need to take personal responsibility for the state of our communities and recognize how important these homes are to our family, friends, and neighbours. This unnecessary damage directly impacts people’s lives. Let us work together to keep our houses in good repair and condition and keep our communities beautiful.
In the Northwest Territories, there is always a call for more affordable housing. We have to remember that damages to units will take funds that have been allocated for other projects, such as building more affordable housing. Damage can also result in people losing their homes. Continued unnecessary damage to units can make it impossible for Housing NWT and local housing organizations to keep up with repairs. This means that eventually homes become uninhabitable and people cannot live in them.
Mr. Speaker, if tenants are causing continual damage, it can also result in evictions. Housing NWT and the local housing organizations do not take evictions lightly. Evictions are the last action in a long, tracked process seeking to address non-compliance with a tenancy agreement, including damage to a unit. This is an issue that concerns us all. No one wants to see people homeless or families compromised. We are invested in seeing all residents with a roof over their head and safety for their families. As part of our commitment to ensuring a healthier living environment, Housing NWT is committed to providing safe and healthy public housing units that are positively affecting tenants' well-being and provide a home for their family members. Together, we can create thriving communities and comfortable homes for everyone. Quyananni, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister for Housing NWT. Before we move on to other Ministers' statements, I'd like to recognize our former Premier Stephen Kakfwi. He was elected in 1987 and finished his job in 2003, but he's still a strong advocate for the residents of the Northwest Territories. Welcome to the House, Premier.
Ministers' statements. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.
