Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess my concern is that the women's society is trying their best to navigate the CMHC process, the Housing Corp process, they -- trying to get all of its residents on income support and working with HSS funding. But that is a lot of things to get in line in a short amount of time. It's causing a lot of anxiety and uncertainty for that organization. Is there a path forward where we can get some sort of assurance beyond this September 30th date, that they will continue to operate? For example, if the CMHC funding does not come through, can the Minister of Health and Social Services work with them to make sure there is some guarantee that this continues beyond September 30th? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Yes, thank you. Just to clarify, Mr. Speaker, the reason Health and Social Services is involved in this conversation is that pandemic response money has been funding the Spruce Bough up to this point, and we have a commitment of that money until the end of September. When it comes to working with entities like the Housing Corporation and the CMHC, then the Spruce Bough will need to do that. They don't need the Health and Social Services as an intermediary. So, really, that -- it all depends on the course of the pandemic in terms of this short-term funding. The funding was provided in order to give vulnerable people a place to live and, particularly, a place to isolate during the pandemic. If it turns out that there -- that there is no longer this need because the pandemic has turned into an endemic situation and we don't have access to that funding, then this is where the rub is, and these housing entities need to come in and support the Spruce Bough. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Monfwi

Masi, Mr. Speaker.

[Translation] I'd just like to say, Mr. Speaker, about housing in our -- in our home communities, about housing, Minister for Housing, I'd like to -- yesterday I was in Behchoko. I sat with some few members, and I asked -- or they asked about their condition, their situation that we see. So this is what I'd like to ask the Minister of Housing. The last -- and I asked the last sitting about there's a few homes that's been just sitting there empty that has been, you know, it's all boarded up. We see that. And some other homes have been completely gone, taken down, it's don't no longer exist so this is why I'd like to ask the Minister of Housing what they're going to do with it. [Translation ends]

Minister of Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Right now, I can confirm that, you know, with the -- with the units that are unoccupied in Behchoko, we have -- well, so far have got two that are approved for demolition, and we are working with the Tlicho Government. But just on the size of that, as well, too, that for Behchoko, we have six expansion units that are going to be constructed this year and four public housing replacements in Behchoko that will be put on the ground in the coming months. Also, we have seven major maintenance and improvement projects also that will be taking place and replacement of the local housing authority office. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] yesterday when I went to -- when I was in Behchoko, I did saw that the way it looks about housing. So when you see houses, some are wood burnt and all boarded up. It's been there, sitting there for the last ten, 15 years, so for a while now that I've been standing here speaking about the housing in Behchoko. When are they going to be able to tear it out and give us a date, a target date, when? Tomorrow? Next week? Or next 10 years, or 15 or so? Give us a date, please. Thank you. [Translation ends]

Sorry, Mr. Speaker, I'm just so into my notes and trying to respond. But I would like go into Behchoko and look at the units that are -- that we currently do have boarded up because this is the largest community that we do have in the Northwest Territories. We do have a number of public housing units that are in that community. So we have a lot of work that's being done currently with the Tlicho Government looking at the demolition projects or transfer of some of our units as well, too. So looking at that, I would have to get back to the Member with a specific date on those units that would be identified for demolition. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And like I had said before, that I would like to work with the Tlicho Government and the Member as well to identify the units that we can possibly have on our list for demolition this year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Monfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [Translatin] Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So the Minister and also they should be at least maybe three or four from the head office to see because you will know we would be able to work with them. At times, you know when we do speak, it's like we're not going ahead. So this is why when we or the Minister have or the members that are sitting at the head office and see -- they see firsthand and this is the way we would be able to get things going and moving and working on it right away. [Translation ends].

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just once again, looking at the burnt, abandoned units that, you know, I'd like to work very closely with the local housing authority, as well too the district offices, and see how we could come to a resolution. But also we're putting units on the ground and I think the other discussion we need to have with the Tlicho Government is with the abandoned units and we need to start addressing that issue and how are we going to be doing that. I will have to speak to the government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Hay River South.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to go back to a question from yesterday and questioning the Minister of MACA on funding for the Hay River Ski Club. I want the Minister to understand the importance of sport and the role it plays in building character and providing one with a healthy lifestyle and a sense of purpose. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister provide me with a total amount of proceeds for sports that are received through the lottery sales in the NWT? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't have that level of detail with me. I will follow up with the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it's important that funds raised by retailers in Hay River stay in Hay River. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, will the Minister provide me with a breakdown of the total lottery funds received from each community and where they are allocated with respect to community or aboriginal government, sports club, individual sports, and administration costs. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The information will be provided to the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Hay River Ski Club has received proceeds from lotteries in Hay River for over 30 years. Those Hay River retailers, knowing the importance of sport and the ski club, intended the financial support would continue indefinitely. I would have expected that this government would have acknowledged that and grandfathered the ski club into receiving ongoing annual financial support.

Mr. Speaker, will the Minister explain to me if the Hay River Ski Club and lottery retailers were properly informed of the required changes prior to entering into the five-year agreement? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The department did reach out to the nonprofit sport organizations that did have -- where this agreement had affected them, the five-year agreement. With those further details, I don't have that in front of me but I will follow up with the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, like we said yesterday, we are talking about $33,655 annually, which works out to $0.72 per day per member over a six-month period. The ski club are very concerned as there is no funding in place for the coming year. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister commit to providing, or at least reviewing how a longer term financial commitment can be made to the Hay River Ski Club as it is essential to their survival? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The department has a number of sport funding pots available to organizations throughout the territory. I highly encourage the ski club to reach out and we will provide that information to provide enough -- some sort of application support. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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