This is page numbers 43 - 80 of the Hansard for the 19th Assembly, 1st Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was going.

Topics

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

I am enjoying these answers that I am getting from the brand new Minister. It is an area of challenge in the community, but we have to keep in mind that this has been going on for the last 15 years. The next question obviously is a critical one for me, as well. The Minister did allude to at some degree, but I want to get a clear and concise answer on this particular question. Is the NWT Housing Corporation willing to look at these individually, on case-by-case basis, and to investigate reasonable solutions for these families so they can live with dignity once again?

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

As the Housing Corporation Minister, I am new to the position, but then I am from a smaller community; I am familiar with the scenarios and situations that the Housing Corporation does have in the smaller areas. I am open to looking at these individual cases case-by-case in your community and the responsible solutions. I do not have the information right now to provide to you in regards to how are we going to be accommodating the residents in Behchoko and the people that are affected.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Member for Monfwi.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Masi. The Minister did bring up that she represents a small community, and it has not been the case in the previous Executive, so I would like to thank the Member for that, speaking from her experience. It will make a difference in my community and especially the small communities that we represent across the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, since housing is the number one issue in my region, I would like to ask the Minister and also the senior staff: it is very crucial that they attend, as well, to visit my communities of Behchoko, Whati, Gameti and Wekweeti, along with the local housing authority representatives, to deal with my constituents' issues and concerns that I just addressed with the Minister. I believe this matter is urgent enough to warrant this meeting early in the new year. I would like to get a commitment. I know the Minister alluded to, to some degree, but I would like to get a commitment from the Minister today. Masi.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Yes, the Housing Corporation will be committed to visiting the Tlicho region. I am also wanting just to express, as well, Wekweeti was the first community for the Housing Corporation that had completed a housing plan, and we are actually going to be going there next week to explore those options and those accomplishments that they have completed. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question for the Minister of Health is related to my Member's statement. Does the Minister of Health have any financial assessment comparables for the cost of preventable measures like homecare and home support with daily extended hours, compared to building more structures for elders in regional centres and staffing them? If so, can they be provided? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's a timely question in that we have just completed a home and community care review for the Northwest Territories. We received the full final report on September 16th, which includes 22 recommendations. These recommendations are currently being prioritized by the staff; however, I can tell you that we also included research from other jurisdictions. The information in the review supports that, by investing in home and community care, there is potential to divert some costs related to long-term care. This is a priority for the department and, drawing from the experience in other jurisdictions, we are continuing to assess what this may mean for the Northwest Territories.

I look forward to providing more details to the Member as we conclude this work. We will have the review and our responses to the recommendations available for the MLAs for the next session, and we look forward to the opportunity to provide a briefing to the interested Members. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

In relation to my Member's statement, as well: will the Minister of Health commit to providing after-hour and weekend services to clients in Inuvik by having their department look at ways to have possibly evening and day shift work throughout the week?

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

I agree that there is a need to look at how services and the home and community care programs are being delivered, including the hours of service. When the home and community care review was conducted, one of the purposes of the review was to look at the consistency in how services are delivered across the Northwest Territories, as well as if there are any gaps in the program and services. There are recommendations from the review that do speak to exploring the feasibility of expanding hours of services. We will be working with the health and social services authorities to determine how we can move this recommendation forward, including which communities will be our priority based on current needs.

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

I am just looking to see if the Minister will commit to looking at what it would cost, also, and maybe it's part of this plan, to bring our residents back to the NWT to be cared for here at home, as well.

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

As I noted earlier, our goal is to support elders and those with disabilities to live in their homes and their communities. It's never our goal to have someone leave their home or community; however, we all know that there are times when the care may become so complex that we need to consider other options for care for our clients. We have a number of residents who have had to relocate outside the Northwest Territories to receive care that has exceeded our ability to provide. Many of these individuals are living in what we call a "supportive living" setting.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just to the last comment that she made, the supported living, within this new report, hopefully, they are looking at supportive living in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

That is our ability, to have a look at that, and I will get back to the Member with any progress on the review. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Question 15-19(1): Housing Crisis
Oral Questions

December 10th, 2019

Page 57

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. As I mentioned in my statement, residents of Yellowknife and in communities across the NWT are facing what I describe as a housing crisis. Housing problems have more than doubled in the last five years. Can the Minister tell us whether she considers the current situation a crisis? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member. Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for your comments, Member. With the housing crisis, it's not acceptable for the Northwest Territories. Like I said before, I do come from a smaller community. I come from a smaller area. I do see the homelessness, and I see how it affects our people at the grassroots level. I will be working very closely with my department and looking at the programs that are now existing, and working towards improvement. Thank you.

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you to the Minister for that answer. I want her to appreciate that we have significant housing problems in Yellowknife, as well as in the small communities. My question for her is: what specific action is she going to take to address the escalating housing problems identified in the 2019 survey?

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Going forward, I know that there are reports that have been completed in the past, already. I have not had the chance to review them, but I would like to exercise them in getting new results and new ideas. I do come to the department with fresh eyes, and I am looking forward to looking at the Northwest Territories and meeting their needs as a territory.

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you to the Minister for that response. I'd like the Minister to answer whether she is prepared to revisit the Housing Corporation's decision not to add any more units to its inventory to meet the waiting list of over 900 households.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Member. I would like to revisit the number of units that are existing for the Northwest Territories, but also we are in a housing crisis, as well, and we do need new allocated units and new public units in the Northwest Territories. I am wanting to go ahead and review what we actually have on the ground and look at the inventory.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Member for Yellowknife Centre.