Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We do have in our mandate that we are to be increasing the housing stock throughout the Northwest Territories by 25 houses annually. We are working toward homeownership so they can free up the houses and we're able to work with Indigenous groups to offset our old stock. So, going forward, we are working toward a plan to improve housing in the Northwest Territories and increase our public housing number of units in our smaller communities, and throughout the territories, as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

That didn't really answer my question, but that's a bigger-picture plan. What is the plan to house these families? As I mentioned, there are 97 on the wait list. The majority of these are single and they've been waiting six, seven years on this wait list, living with other families, couch surfing. I have one member who just told me she lives in a three-bedroom house with eight people, and she has health issues. So what is the plan for the housing Minister to deal with the authorities to get these people housed?

Going forward, I do realize we do have a shortage of units in the territory, and I want to let the Member know that we do have houses that are being constructed this year, but I'm just not sure which communities will be receiving them. I will give a list over to the Member to let her know if there are units scheduled to be built in her region.

Will the Minister commit to working with the Minister of ECE to look at their housing lists, especially in my community, to see if there are people who are single on income support? Because what I'm hearing is that they are not given enough funding to be on their own, and there is only a limited amount, so they can only rent a room. So can they work together in my community to look at what it costs to have an apartment and get them housed?

I will be working with my colleague and the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. As this is a new concern to me, I am really interested in following up with my colleague and I will be following up with the Member, as well.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just one last question: does the Minister agree that not providing adequate housing in Inuvik and all communities outside the capital causes them to migrate to Yellowknife, which increases the homeless in the city and the need for NGOs to look for solutions like the Arnica Inn?

Homelessness is a huge problem in our Northwest Territories, and looking at solutions going forward and how are we going to be working as a territory and addressing this issue, I would like to meet with the Member and discuss the issues in her region. We do have a pending strategy right now happening in Yellowknife, and the Member is aware of that, but I would like to follow up with her. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I would like to have questions for the Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corporation. Does the NTPC have the policy set on how the current device for the current limiting system? Does it have that set in policy, and when do they use it? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I appreciate the Member bringing this concern to me I think about three weeks ago, when we started looking into this. To answer his first question, yes, it's in our policy. It's about how we use it. The second thing, it's only used during the wintertime. It's making sure that the facility, the house or the building, is not frozen up, and so it doesn't cause the pipes to freeze. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

So it's only used in the wintertime, not in the summertime? So we're okay in the summer, but that's the wrong time of the year. It's minus 50 at home; 56 in the coastal communities. The wind is blowing. Families are having to go in 10 minutes of power; 10 minutes on, 10 minutes off. I'm asking: would the Minister direct his deputy ministers or the board to cut off or to stop using the limiters from October to April?

Why we don't do it in the summertime is because we disconnect. We have 2,999 delinquent accounts, $2.2 million in arrears that the government has to cover, which means our other clients have to deal with it. In regard to the situation from October to April I believe the Member has asked for, I'm willing to look into this to see if it's something feasible, but right now, people have to understand, when the limiters are used, it's a last resort. We try every possible way to make sure we don't get to that stage.

Has the Minister ever spoken to any of his elders in his community, or anybody across the territory, who have actually been limited with the device?

I do have a number of people in my riding who have had this experience. We've talked about it. The biggest thing, when I'm talking to my elders and the constituents, is about payment plans working out there. If there are other options available, then they can reach out to that. The Power Corporation does provide that information to people on the notices, that they are able to do that.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You know, in the Delta, like I always said like a broken record these last few months about people not having jobs and not being able to pay things in full because they're having to choose either pay your rent, pay your power, buy food or clothing for your children, Mr. Speaker. I'm asking this Minister to direct his board to stop using these limiters from October to April and to get repayment plans during the summer when people are actually working. Is that possible? Thank you.

Like I said the first time, or in the second question, I'll look into it and I'll get back to this House. Right now, what we're trying to do is make sure that limiters are a last resort. I want to repeat that: it's our last resort. What we want to do is work with them on payment plans, work with them to see what other options are available through the government, through various programs, and so we try to get that information to them. So, again, it's our last resort, but I will check and have a conversation with the board and the president and, as we move forward, we'll get back to you. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.

Merci, Monsieur le President. In my statement earlier today I noted that the so-called assets of Strategic Oil and Gas in the NWT, namely the Cameron Hills sour gas field that is now in receivership. Can the Minister of Lands explain how and why our government took Cameron Hills under the devolution agreement and whether there is an opportunity to give it back to the federal government? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister of Lands.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. During devolution negotiations, the GNWT and Canada developed criteria to determine which sites would be transferred to the jurisdiction of the Northwest Territories. The Cameron Hills site held by Strategic Oil and Gas was one of the sites that we agreed to take over because it was still operational at that time. Right now, though, currently, the receiver is responsible for managing the site, and not the GNWT.