Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is my very great pleasure to rise today in this Assembly to congratulate the community of Gjoa Haven.
Last Friday I flew into the community, along with the MLA for Natilikmiot, Mr. John Ningark and senior staff of the Housing Corporation, to sign the agreement transferring the management and administration of the Social Housing Program from the Housing Corporation to the hamlet. Although my visit was brief, it was a pleasure because the whole community was proud to be taking a major step toward accepting more responsibility for how local housing decisions are made.
Mr. Speaker, I believe transferring more program authority for housing to the community level is the way to go in the future. It is an opportunity for communities to take greater control of their own destiny. I believe the mayor of Gjoa Haven, Michael Angottitauruq Sr. and council should be commended for their vision, as should the members and staff of the former Housing Association, because it is only through their cooperative approach that this transfer was possible.
As the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, I wish to sincerely thank the mayor, hamlet council and all of the community for being our hosts on Friday night. The community events, including the formal signing ceremony itself were very enjoyable and demonstrated the warmth and friendship of a community which was very proud to be taking greater control of their own lives. I hope that more communities will follow Gjoa Haven, and the example set by other communities, by working with the NWT Housing Corporation to assume greater local control over social housing.
In closing, Mr. Speaker, I believe that we should reflect on the positive outcome of our community empowerment initiative. Through hard work and cooperation between the GNWT and communities, everyone will benefit from the investment in community self-reliance. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.