Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Garnished wages. Mr. Speaker, I hear many stories from constituents in my riding about payments arrears to the NWT Housing Corporation. Now it's Housing NWT. Many people from elders to single-parent families are being forced to garnish wages, income taxes, or even pensions just to pay their arrears to the Housing Corporation. Mr. Speaker, right now, there are countless elders living on fixed incomes, and it is difficult for many of them to make ends meet.
In the NWT, over half the population is Indigenous, and the majority of them live in small communities. Anyone who has lived in or even visited a small community understands there is a significant financial hardship in small communities in addition to social and mental health issues, emotional and substance abuse and much more.
Mr. Speaker, many of the elders are retirees and have contributed financially to the territory's economy. In my eyes, the system has failed these individuals as they have fallen through the cracks. I have spoken to several elders throughout my constituency, and they have all told me that it is difficult for them to make ends meet given the high cost of living and the increasing prices of fuel and utilities especially with the recent NTPC power rate increase. This is a heavy burden, especially for many people within the fly-in communities whose electricity is powered by diesel generators.
Mr. Speaker, at this time, there are many elders who are in arrears with the NWT Housing Corporation, some of which date back as far as 20 years, and the arrears are not decreasing. The elders, who are our knowledge-keepers, are living in some houses which are in dire needs of great repair. Some repairs were done under a mortgage program. Other repairs were done to homes already under homeownership. As a result, many people have been unable to make arrears payments. Mr. Speaker, in some cases elders are left with no choice but to sign refinance agreements and legal action have been taken against them.
Mr. Speaker, elders are being put into difficult situations where, reluctantly, many must agree to have their pensions and taxes garnished just to keep a roof over their heads. And it's not just the elders.
Mr. Speaker, we also have young families, with six small children, whose income tax was recently garnished by the NWT Housing Corporation. And Mr. Speaker, I am well aware of single parents in this situation as well.
The financial stress caused on elders and families to maintain -- can I have unanimous consent to conclude my statement, please.
---Unanimous consent granted
Thank you. The financial stress caused on elders and families to maintain a roof over their head when they are already struggling with the cost of living is unacceptable. Something has to change. I will have questions for the Minister of Housing at the appropriate time. Mahsi.