Thank you. Ms. Green.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm wondering if the Minister could tell us how the new housing bilateral agreement with Ottawa is reflected on this page. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Martin.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Could the Minister please remind us how that money is going to be allocated? Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Martin.

Thank you. Ms. Green, your time has expired. Next, we have Mr. Blake.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just a couple of questions. I know the Minister had brought this issue up a couple of times, and the department has actually acted on it. The issue is landscaping around our housing units, mainly the driveways. A lot of these units, there's been absolutely no landscaping done since they actually built the units, which is sometimes 20, 30 years plus. Over time, there's been erosion to units, and it actually damages. Water and sewer trucks that have to deliver water, there are big pot holes, especially in communities like Aklavik, Fort McPherson, Tsiigehtchic. Especially in Aklavik, where we've had flooding over the years, it's a huge issue. I just want to know if there's funding available. I know, sometimes, LHOs aren't given the opportunity to use their budget for gravel that's needed to fill in these driveways. Would the Minister be willing to set aside some funds for that? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, we would be willing to look at that on a case-by-case basis, obviously. I know that throughout the -- well, I'm wearing my other hat, there. We do have nine communities that are on the flood watch, as well as shoreline erosion, and we would look at it on a case-by-case basis. If the Member knows of any situations, I'd encourage him to let us know so we can look at addressing that. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Blake.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have a big list here.

---Laughter

No, that's good news, Mr. Chair. There are a number of units that come to mind, but moving forward, I will be sure to work with the department and get the ones that need it the most done, hopefully this spring. Thank you for that.

The other thing was, just under electrical, I know it has gone down quite a bit. I'm sure it's because of some solar power in cases like the Joe Greenland Centre, and I'd like to thank the department because our elders had to use heating, ceramic heaters, and any way to warm up that unit. I'd like to thank them for covering that cost and reimbursing those elders. Let's hope that that's the end of that problem. Moving forward, I know in the last government we were looking at biomass, and I would like to know if the department is looking at hooking up some of these units, like elders' homes and other housing units? Maybe multiplexes with biomass? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. To the previous question, on a case-by-case basis, it would be to any Member, any communities, so any Member who has concerns, please let us know. In terms of the biomass, I did answer some questions today in the House on the work that we are doing, the work that we are doing with our stakeholders and partners, and we also have the community support initiative. We really need to get out there and promote that program, and I think it's going to happen when we have that Northern Housing Summit so that our leaders, our residents, know what kind of programs they can access to help in that area. Thank you.

Thank you. Next, we have Mr. McNeely.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My colleague from the Delta, his flu must be lifting here, so his spirits are lifting, as well. I'm quite satisfied with the program delivery, having participated in orchestrating a community engagement development plan back on October 5^th in Deline, and I see the resource support and the staff support going towards dialogue on developing the community plan. It's all good if you amortize it over one mortgage, say 15, 20 years, but if we are relying on leadership and having experience, the lack of leadership, but the deed from the public demand. An example from the public demand was the article on CBC yesterday. Is there any way that we can overcome that gap and go directly to the needs of the individual who is going to undertake this mortgage? I throw out one suggestion. I want to take advantage of these opportunities that are in front of us similar to how the Power Corporation has taken advantage of the capital resources available from the federal level, which is good, but I would like to see it tickling down to the tenants.

Some communities throughout the territories were only accessible by the winter roads, so if we miss that road, it is another whole year. Some other communities can say, "Yes, okay, we missed a winter road, but our material is going to come on the barge," so there are options. Some don't have that secondary option. Is there any way that we can recruit a development officer to reside in the community over several days to help the individuals? I know we have our regional staff and I see them going on a winter road, going to the communities of the Sahtu, so they are doing their jobs, but they have other tasks at hand, as well. Are there any ways that we can hire additional staff to stay in the community to help the individual follow the guidelines of the program and how to access the program and how to do a material take-off to complete their home wishes? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That was a really good story on the young gentleman in Colville Lake. We do have programs for people who want to build their own homes. Obviously, we have to look at building codes, for one thing, and also tenants to provide some of their own funding to get the place up and running. Our district officers, who are technical and program staff, they are getting out to the communities. I know that, while they go through a couple of community tours, regional tours, that we did promote getting our district offices technical staff and program staff out to promote the programs, and this is going to be something that I am sure we will have discussions on with the LHO meeting, as well as the Northern Housing Summit. I am really praising this Northern Housing Summit only because it is going to be an opportunity for everybody to see the program, services, challenges, and barriers that we have and work on how can we address them together. Northern solutions for northern housing. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Mr. McNeely.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. Are there any development funds available to hire a consultant to go to the communities? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As I mentioned earlier, the community support initiative, I mean, working with leadership, they can look at applying for that type of spending. As I said earlier when the Member asked a question in the House, that is a program that we need to promote and get out there so communities know that they can apply on this and look at addressing some of their housing priorities, but there are some of their housing initiatives, as well. Under the CMHC funding, there is Seed funding to develop proposals. Like I said, Mr. Chair, all this information will be provided once we get to this Northern Housing Summit, and as I mentioned to the Member earlier that we would be more than willing to reach out. We have met with Deline. We have also met with Fort Good Hope staff, but this is something that we want to get out to everybody across the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Chair.