Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in June of 2024, I asked the Minister of Housing NWT about what efforts housing is doing to work with communities to help address homelessness across the territory. Just by happenstance, in the summer of 2024 my riding was home to an encampment, and I became more well versed with how the GNWT is addressing immediate housing and homelessness issues as they arise and what they want to do in the mid to longer term.
Mr. Speaker, after much back and forth with the department on that event, I understand now that EIA is speaking funding to create transitional and supportive housing whereas Housing NWT deals in public housing. Housing NWT as a corporation that builds stock could secure federal dollars and build transitional and supportive housing in Yellowknife and across the territory, but we're all aware that those costs can be prohibitive.
Mr. Speaker, I am hopeful but not certain if all options are being examined by EIA to increase stock more quickly. In recent weeks, interested folks have reached out to tell me that there has been an offer made to EIA on existing stock by industry at below market cost to the GNWT, but calls were not returned quickly enough and those offers fell off the table. I'm concerned that important opportunities are passing us by. Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Premier.
Thank you, Member from Great Slave. Members' statements. Member from Inuvik Boot Lake.
