Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And as I mentioned in my Member's statement, you know, moving our most vulnerable from empty building to empty building to empty building is not a solution. So could the Minister elaborate on what are some of the longer plan -- longer term plans for the Inuvik warming shelter and its residents in my community? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And as this is unfolding in a community right now, we are working with the Indigenous groups. We have just -- have just established a governance committee in the Member's riding. Right now, we are just looking for a building to get started on in making sure that we could find a more long-term solution, and I will update the Member as we -- as all of the information starts to come into my office. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You know, Mr. Speaker, I've asked this question a couple of times I think. I've emailed the Minister, and it wasn't just this government, it was the last government that promised us a homelessness strategy. When are we expected to see that strategy? And I'm hoping to hear an answer and a date. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, during our February sitting. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and this may be more of a comment. I just want to thank the department for their quick action, like I said and, you know, and the -- one of the things is that the department has taken on is assumed all the staff within the -- my community. So I just -- maybe it is a question as to what the long-term plan for this is, if she can elaborate. If not, I'd like an answer if I can get it in writing. Thanks.

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will follow up with the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

[Audio] Member for Yellowknife North.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs.

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Never a backlog; we've always got work to do. So MACA is responsible for 21 statutes and their associated regulations. And some of it needs to be examined to see if changes are required. MACA will be selecting one -- taking on and prioritizing legislative initiatives. The department needs to balance the age of legislation, its complexity, the nature, and an extent of changes required, whether or not -- or stakeholders are experiencing issues with its administration. MACA must also consider the capacity of stakeholders to support the legislative development, the NWTAC and LGANT have both cautioned about the capacity to participate in multiple initiatives at this time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thought I threw MACA a softball 'yes' there. I note the Minister said that the department is responsible for 21 Acts. That's -- ENR has nine and Lands has three. That's almost twice as many as their other departments. And I guess my question is how many pieces of legislation did MACA intend to bring forward in this Assembly and how many realistically are we going to see? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I gave him his 'yes' last week so he's done for the yeses. So -- besides the joking aside there. So MACA initiated -- when were first started, we were looking at three legislations. We brought forward Property Assessment and Taxation, the Fire Prevention Act, and the Senior Citizens Disability and Personal Property Tax Relief Act. Unfortunately, COVID hit, floods hit, flood recovery hit, and so we realistically looked at what can we achieve at this point in time. So what we said is the Senior Citizen and Disability Property Tax Relief will wait until the 20^th -- or Assembly. But we're doing the necessary work to get it going there.

Also MACA is providing advanced work with this Assembly to bring a municipal -- municipalities under the assess -- to Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act. However, Member -- I can tell the Member I just had a meeting with the deputy minister and ADM this morning, and we are looking at ways to move forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You know what, I'm hopeful we're going to see the Property Assessment and Taxation Act. The MLA from Frame Lake often remarks that when he was on council in 1997, he asked for that act to be brought forward. And a lot has happened in the intervening 24 years except amendments to the Property Assessment and Taxation Act.

Mr. Speaker, presently the on-the-land implementation unit has nine funded staff to bring one act in -- into force. The on-the-land policy shop there is actually the largest policy shop in the GNWT for one act, yet MACA with 21 acts does not have nine policy staff. So is the Minister willing to look what his other departments have done and maybe bring forward a similar unit to catch up MACA on their backlog of legislation? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.