Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Member for the question as well too because this mortgage program is quite an old program. It was a program that CMHC had engaged in with Housing Corporation at that time. These files are quite dated, and the collection on them is quite huge. We have 247 mortgage files throughout the Northwest Territories, and the collection number on them is quite significant as well too.

These files are probably about -- I want to say approximately about 15 to 20 years old. And we are working with the outstanding of these files as well too. But we do work very closely with the clients as well. The other thing that I have realized with homeownership is it's very hard for the client to maintain their own home and looking at structural improvements that are needed over a certain amount of time which ends up in a lot of damages over a period of time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Mr. Speaker, I hear from constituents in my riding how they must resort to garnishing the little income they receive in order to pay for their housing. In some cases, people with children -- especially with children are applying for Jordan's Principle to pay back Housing Corporation arrears.

Does the Housing Corporation consider the means a client has to pay back their debts? How can the Housing or GNWT collect Jordan's Principle payments from a client when that funding is supposed to be used for social, health, and education supports, not to prevent homelessness? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the Member for the question as well too, that when we're looking at garnishees for the Northwest Territories, this is a long -- a long process. And looking at the garnishing, that is our last resort in attempts to recovering that funding that is needed to be paid back to Housing NWT. And Jordan's Principle, I don't want to comment on that program as it's not a territorial program. I don't approve or deny applications so I'm not too familiar with their criteria. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned, elders are on fixed income. Can the Minister explain what type of integrated and personalized support the NWT Housing provides for elders and for others to ensure that they can remain in their homes without living in poverty? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the Member the question. Housing NWT is a social program. We don't look at the high market rent in each of the smaller communities and the larger centres. We're severely subsidized to house people throughout the Northwest Territories. And looking at the elders and the fixed income, if the Member has some issues within her riding I'd like to take a look at those files as well too and further have those discussions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Mr. Speaker, that's good information. I know that the housing is -- public units are social programs. And there are some people that are paying max rent. It is a social program. And some is in deplorable condition, and they are paying $1,500 a month. And that is not part of a subsidized program. If it was a subsidized program, it would be less than that, people living on fixed income.

Mr. Speaker, it's not just my region that I am talking about. It's all over the Northwest Territories, especially in small communities, that I am advocating for too as well. So Mr. Speaker, many elders in the NWT still care for children and grandchildren. Although they are elders, they may still care for many family members as well, and this comes at a financial cost.

Mr. Speaker, how is the Minister of Housing considering the financial burden on elders who still need to care for children, grandchildren, or other family members? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Member for the question as well too. And looking at the rent that we are charging that is according to our rental rates throughout the Northwest Territories, I just wanted to comment on it further that we don't -- to operate these units, it's 25,000 -- this number was given to me about -- it was a number provided ten years ago. And looking at the increase of fuel, the increase of power, I don't have that accurate number in front of me. But these units are severely subsidized. I really want to emphasize on that. And if we're looking at the $1,500 per month for the client that the Member had mentioned, I would like to take a look at that too and further provide an explanation of how we got to that number.

And also the Member had also spoken about the children, the grandchildren, the grandparents, the elders. We do have an overcrowding issue throughout the Northwest Territories and mainly in the smaller communities as well. With the response on that, we are doing a complete policy review of all of Housing's policies as well, and we have just entered into a renewal as well too. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said in my Member's statement earlier today, I have been advocating for my constituents in housing, Yellowknife public housing units, that are suffering from an inexcusable living condition caused by an acute infestation of cockroaches. I will share the public housing names later with the Minister.

My question, Mr. Speaker, is the Minister aware of the significant infestation of cockroaches, insects, pests, and vermin in privately managed public housing units? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Minister responsible for Housing NWT.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, Housing NWT is aware of the situation. And we are working with the landlord of the building to address the situation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Does the Minister think it is acceptable for public housing tenants to live in conditions where swarms of cockroaches crawl over the walls, floors, ceiling, contaminate foods and water, and especially when you go to bed at night they crawl onto you. Is this acceptable? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My personal opinion is not appropriate when addressing these issues. But I do work with the people and the residents of the Northwest Territories. And as a Minister, I've travelled quite significantly throughout the territory. I've been to most of the communities about twice within my term. In result of that, we are looking at the renewal that has already been established and the policy changes as well too to further address these issues as well.

And also I just wanted to comment that Housing does conduct a condition rating annually on our public housing units. If the Member is referencing a unit here in Yellowknife, I'd have to further look into that. I'd have to follow up with the landlord. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What action have the NWT Housing Corporation done to remedy the living condition of these tenants throughout the Northwest Territories and here in Yellowknife?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Housing organization is working with the landlord to have a professional pest control consultant to address the situation. They've also provided tenant education on things that they can do to help prevent their reinfestation. But also there's a lot more communication happening between the tenants and the local housing authorities that I would like to have the tenants notify the local housing authorities or Housing when these issues surface, I guess. And so we don't have to wait until we're looking at a major infestation, I would like to address this issue immediately and not have that carried over until we are looking at an emergency response. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Tu Nedhé-Wiilideh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think this is an emergency. The unit that these guys are living in is known to have cockroaches and bugs and worms for a long time.

So will the Minister commit to moving the affected families immediately to a clean and safe housing unit and apologize to the tenants for having to tolerate intolerable living conditions for the last two years? This is not just a one-time thing. It happened over and over. They call housing authority. Nothing happens. So I'd like to -- thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Housing NWT deals with a number of issues throughout the Northwest Territories that we need to be working with our tenant more closely on. The LHO has been in contact with the tenant. They have not abandoned this issue. They haven't been -- they have been in constant communication. And as of today, we do not have a unit that is available. We have a very low vacancy rate here in Yellowknife. And like I had said before, that we will be following up with the landlord. We do depend on those lease agreements here in Yellowknife in order for us to address the housing crisis here in Yellowknife. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm hearing the same political rhetoric on dredging. And now reading between the lines, the Minister may be telling me if we expect federal support, then we may need a new federal government. Let's hope they are listening because it's a continued viable existence of the community of Hay River I'm talking about.

So Mr. Speaker, there will be a requirement to receive federal approval to dredge. Has the department asked and received that approval from the federal government, or has an application even been made? Thank you.

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister responsible for Infrastructure.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is correct, we are looking at the dredging in Hay River. So I do want to mention that in 2020, the Department of Infrastructure submitted a proposal for federal funding to partially dredge and restore the Hay River harbour but it was not approved. The request for funding over three years to undertake initial mechanical support, mechanical spot dredging only in the most heaviest silted areas of Hay River harbour, within the East Channel and at the harbour's mouth, as determined from our operations.

Mr. Speaker, the focus was on restoring navigability to facilitate safe passage of vessels including those of Canadian Coast Guard, the tugs, the barges of MTS, and commercial fishing vessels. So the request was not intended to cover the more extensive dredging that is required to restore the entire harbour to fully operating draft and safe navigability. So the extent of which can only be determined with regular bathymetric surveys.

Mr. Speaker, once the restoration is complete, an ongoing dredging program should be reestablished to be able to resolve long-term issue. This would also require base funding, long-term commitment from the federal government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister confirm if any bathymetry or hydrographic mapping of the Hay River harbour has been completed to determine the extent of dredging required? Thank you.