Thank you, Madam Chair. There is no question that housing is a challenge, in particular in our smaller communities, for GNWT staff, teachers included. Over the past couple of years, I have worked with our partners, the DECs and the NWTTA, to make sure that on their websites and when they are
talking to potential hires that they are making people aware of the kind of housing that will be available and what the costs are. We are finding that, while there are still challenges, we are finding that there are fewer shocks and less surprise when people arrive in our communities.
There are sometimes significant challenges. We had one or two communities this fall where there was quite a bit of work that the DEC had to undertake to make sure that housing was available. Through ECE and the Housing Corporation, we were able to resolve that, but it does remain a challenge.
One of the things I have asked DECs to do as early as possible when they know they are going to have new staff come in, is identify areas where there is a problem so that I can work with the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation to see if there isn't some way we can ensure that some market housing is available in a community where it might be needed.