Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Today I wish to speak about the important issue of providing affordable and adequate housing for senior homeowners in Tu Nedhe. Mr. Speaker, as I talked about earlier this week and many times during session, housing is a huge problem in my riding. It is very personal and often stressful for the constituents. I will continue to work on this, particularly trying to address seniors’ homeowner repair issues. Mr. Speaker, I will continue to work with the Minister and both communities on homeownership concerns for seniors in the area of cost efficiency and comfort. For seniors that own their own units, I will continue to work on repair and renovation issues on their behalf.

Mr. Speaker, approximately 90 percent of the seniors’ home repair and much needed renovations can be addressed through a program that provides up to $25,000 in repair and renovations to the homeowners. I will be seeking an innovative community-based approach for addressing the home repair and renovation issue for both Tu Nedhe communities with monies available. I will be seeking $1.6 million of infrastructure funding to put towards this initiative; $600,000 for Lutselk’e and $1 million for Fort Resolution. This is based on the total amount of senior homeowners in each community. With barge date and material take-offs, time is of the essence. So this is something that I will be working on immediately.

Mr. Speaker, to start the process, inspections need to be carried out and this will determine the scope of work for each unit for the procurement of materials and supplies and the hiring of technical and other staff that must be planned immediately. Mr. Speaker, with this initiative, planning and support is needed from the NWT Housing Corporation staff to assist the communities with this innovative approach. Later on, I will have follow-up questions for the appropriate Minister, the Minister of Housing. Thank you.