Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm the voice for people in my constituency, and I am here to bring forward an issue of housing in our communities and I'm here to make a couple comments on this.

Mr. Speaker, earlier this year I provided the Minister responsible for Housing NWT with a thorough list of homes in desperate need of repair in the communities that I represent in the Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh riding. I waited three months for the Minister to respond, and what I received was far from adequate to address the significant housing needs in my riding. The Minister has committed to working with respectful and political leaders in Lutselk'e, YKDFN, and DKFN to complete their housing strategies. Something, Mr. Speaker, that Housing NWT ought to be doing anyway.

Why am I here if not to advocate for the needs of my people and to cut through the bureaucratic red tape to find real solutions to their problems?

The Minister does not get a gold star for doing what it is expected of her portfolio. Under Housing, delipidated housing units are chronic issues in the Northwest Territories. There isn't a novel issue. And the problem -- the programs aren't doing enough to move the needle towards available, affordable, and adequate housing in the Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh riding.

Mr. Speaker, I have spoken to the leadership in our communities, and they tell me it takes two to three years to complete these housing strategies. We simply do not have time to waste, and we must take immediate action to ensure proper homeownership repairs in all four communities that I represent.

Mr. Speaker, lucky for the Minister, I have already provided her with a solution to this problem. First, we need to conduct an independent housing assessment in the riding. This assessment will look at the unit condition and writing a report that will make recommendations on repairs based on current building codes, requirements in the communities of Fort Resolution, Lutselk'e, Dettah, and N'dilo. Once this report is complete, it will include actual costs based on today material pricing needed for the repairs, replacements, and to identify overcrowding issues, ultimately producing a cost action plan to complete this vital work over a four-year period. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to seek unanimous consent to conclude my Member's statement. Thank you.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Not only will this resolve many of the housing issues in my riding, but it will create new opportunities to promote local trades and apprenticeship training. Mr. Speaker, this plan is estimated to cost a modest of $350,000 but the benefits will be priceless for the peace of mind, the economic opportunities that this work will represent to my constituents.

I am urging the Minister to take serious look at this plan. Working together across the floor is what we are supposed to be doing in a consensus government. And I sincerely hope that the Minister will be able to find the flexibility within her department to fund this plan immediately and see through the benefit of the residents of Lutselk'e, Fort Resolution, Dettah, and N'dilo.

Later today I will have questions for the Minister on her commitments to home repairs in my riding. I will also be tabling letters and referred documents earlier at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.