Masi. Members' statements. Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, housing continues to be one of the biggest contributing factors to social ills within the Nunakput region. Although $15 million was delivered directly to the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation from the federal government, the need for more homes to be constructed is bleakly felt by those who continue to remain on the waiting list. With the cancellation of MTS barges, this means four homes aren't being built to completion this winter.

Mr. Speaker, housing can be more than just a building; housing can be an opportunity for social progress. The communities have strengths and skills that could be of use, that need to be used. Building on these local capacities can give our people a sense of empowerment and resilience.

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories needs to take a look at the contractors who build these homes in the territory. Recently in Nunakput, there have been unfinished homes due to contractors not fulfilling commitments to the Housing Corporation. Ultimately, this has a ripple effect on the residents who are homeless, residents who are on the waiting list, and Northerners who are scheduled to move into a new home.

Mr. Speaker, we hope that this will encourage the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation to monitor progress, inspect projects, and do a better job than average, as this business costs money at the end of the day.

Mr. Speaker, I'm looking forward to seeing how partnership between Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation rolls out, as it could have positive impacts for all Northerners. Mr. Speaker, we must think progressively when it comes to housing to improve the quality of life for all Northerners. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'll have questions for the Minister of Housing later.

Masi. Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery.

Members, I'd like to draw your attention to visitors in the gallery. I'm pleased to recognize Ms. Patricia Chaychuk here with us as Clerk of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. Ms. Chaychuk has come north with a group of visiting interns from the Manitoba Legislature who will be our guests during this week. Please join me in welcoming Ms. Chaychuk to our proceedings today. Welcome. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm very pleased to welcome my wife, Judy, to the gallery and to the Assembly, and she's also a constituent of Inuvik Boot Lake. Speaking of constituents, I would like to recognize Donna Rogers who is a constituent of Inuvik Twin Lakes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Yellowknife north.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today it is my pleasure to recognize two key members of the Incubator for Northern Design and Innovation. I'd like to recognize Dr. Courtney Chetwynd, artist and researcher. She is also the chief development officer of INDI and happens to be a Yellowknife North resident. I'd also like to recognize my good friend, Dr. Gavin Renwick. He is the Canada Research Chair in Design Studies and is the creative director of INDI. Welcome, and thank you for being here.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Inuvik Boot Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is always an honour to come and sit in the House and see the proceedings, and over the years, I haven't seen Ms. Donna Rogers here, so I would like to welcome her, from Inuvik, even though she is a constituent of Twin Lakes, and to welcome my constituent from Boot Lake, Ms. Judy McLeod.

We also have some special guests in the audience here, Mr. Howie Miller, well-renowned Canadian comedian, so welcome. I know he is passing through from Iqaluit with his wife, Jen Houseman, and I would also just like to recognize Mr. Deneze Nakehk'o, a long-time friend and good basketball buddy of mine. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize two of my constituents from the fine riding of Kam Lake, Ms. Heather Nakehk'o and Deneze Nakehk'o. Thank you for being here today.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Thebacha.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are several directors of family violence shelters in the Northwest Territories today in the Assembly, and I would like to recognize April Davies from Fort Smith, Sutherland House.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too, have a constituent from Tuktoyaktuk, Ms. Sandra Elias, who is one of the directors for the family violence shelters in the Northwest Territories. Welcome, Sandra. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In addition to Ms. Rogers being a constituent of Inuvik Boot Lake, she is also the director of the Inuvik shelter, and she is here for the Family Violence Shelter Network meeting. Thank you.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. If we missed anyone in the gallery, welcome to our proceedings. It is always nice to have an audience as part of our proceedings. Masi.

Item 6, acknowledgements. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge a former constituent, Jack Sigvaldason, who died this summer.

Beginning in 1971 with the feisty Yellowknifer newspaper, "Sig," as he was known, built Northern News Service into a consortium of seven newspapers across two territories, running the NWT's largest printing service with a payroll approaching 100 people.

In June 2012, Jack Sigvaldason was awarded the Canadian Journalism Foundation's Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to journalism and democracy across the North.

Please join me in applauding the life and work of Jack Sigvaldason. Mahsi.

Masi. Acknowledgements. Item 7, oral questions. Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier I spoke about housing issues in Nunakput, and my questions are for the Minister of the Housing Corporation.

Mr. Speaker, with the agreement between the GNWT and IRC being a step in the right direction, my question is: will this agreement bring up the number of housing units needed in Nunakput in 2018? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, under the 2016 federal budget, the Member is right, $15 million was allocated directly to the IRC for 24 public housing replacement projects in the six Inuvialuit Settlement Region communities. These will not be additional units, unfortunately, for the Housing Corporation's portfolio, but will be replacing aging buildings with more energy-efficient and modernized units.

The IRC did secure the additional funding in 2018-2019 to also deliver an additional 10 public housing unit replacements for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. We continue to look forward to working with them and working with the plan to develop more housing units in the ISR region. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.