Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories suffers as a whole with housing needs. Families are on a long waiting list because of a lack of units or, rather than applying for their own units, they choose to stay with their family members.

Mr. Speaker, in all of the communities of the Mackenzie Delta riding -- Aklavik, Fort McPherson, and Tsiigehtchic -- we know our community population is rising. We want to see our communities grow and benefit economically. We as a government need to keep on top of the housing needs for our people.

I understand, Mr. Speaker, that each of our departments is on a budget. However, Mr. Speaker, there is no need for families to be living in old housing units where there are traces of mould, and some units that have no proper heating. These are just unsafe living conditions.

Tsiigehtchic has great expectations for youth who are growing and learning, Mr. Speaker. We expect our children to attend school on a daily basis. They are eager and excited to learn. We need to ensure that they have healthy homes, free from mould and with proper heating, and most importantly, give our families a reason to live at home, to live in our smaller communities, and to work with and for us. We can't do this if families are discouraged with little or no housing units.

The Government of the Northwest Territories needs to look at alternative solutions, either major renovations or new up-and-coming units. On another note, Mr. Speaker, Tsiigehtchic residents have to apply for a housing unit through the Inuvik Housing Authority. We don't have a local housing authority in Tsiigehtchic, Mr. Speaker. This has to change. We need somewhere in our community that we can go to, stand in front of a board to raise our concerns about housing issues, voice our concerns about the need for units, and somewhere that a board can make decisions for Tsiigehtchic because they live in the community and are from the community and know what is required for our people. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.