Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This past weekend marked the end of an era of the territorial Dene Ko Day Shelter located in Yellowknife. Yes, Mr. Speaker, I said territorial day shelter because that is exactly what this shelter provided: a home, a refuge and a place to feel human for over 300 homeless people from all over the territory.
Sadly, this era has come to a close with little information from the Department of Health and Social Services nor its Minister as to its return. Before I ask my questions to the Minister, I would like to take this moment to recognize the long-standing operators of the John Howard Society for their tireless efforts and, of course, to the temporary contractors of the NWT Disabilities Council that hung in there.
The debate of lack of funding for the shelter has been, for many years, a baseline of discussion in this House. Now that it is officially closed and our
downtown streets are once again facing the rigors of homelessness and poverty, we have heard absolutely nothing from the Minister on this subject.
Can the Minister indicate to the House what he is doing about this? Thank you.