Mr.
Speaker, in regard to my
Member’s statement in the area of people with disabilities that live in small communities and the challenges that they face — more importantly, the lack of houses in our communities to accommodate people with disabilities — this government has taken steps to look at barrier-free houses. I know that the Member for Yellowknife mentioned that there were the eight units built here in Yellowknife. In regard to barrier-free houses, we have built houses in seniors’ housing which are barrier-free. We have built seniors’ facilities which are barrier-free. We have the expertise in-house to do that, yet we seem to have a problem accommodating people in small communities, to be able to facilitate them with the adequate housing that they need which are barrier-free.
I have been in contact with the Minister on a particular matter in Fort McPherson, about an individual and his son who is in a wheelchair. I’d like to ask the Minister: exactly what is his department doing to look at barrier-free houses in small communities to accommodate people with disabilities?