Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I must admit that I do find this very frustrating. It's something that we as Members have been talking about on both sides of the House for the life of this Assembly, but it doesn't seem to be something that really we can move the bar on. And it's very frustrating given how reliant our constituents are on more than one service in order to be able to address their basic needs of life.

So in March of this year, Madam Speaker, the Minister indicated that before income assistance and Housing NWT could provide integrated service delivery that they needed to first agree on principles and standards of practice. Can the Minister confirm if these principles and standards of practice have been agreed on and when integrated service delivery between housing and income assistance will be visible for residents? Thank you.

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'll have to get back to the Member on that. But as we are doing reviews of different programs, for example in ECE, we are taking steps to try and adjust the programs so that we can move towards something like this so that, you know, whether you are an ECE representative or, you know, you worked in the housing frontline, you will have perhaps -- we're trying to free up time, streamline processes, so that departments can work more closely together. But for the Member's specific question, I will get back to her. Thank you.

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Monfwi.

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister of Housing NWT.

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Speaker, and thank you to the Member for the question. Developing these relationships with the Indigenous government, for me, is crucial. I myself come from a smaller community. I come from a settled land claim area and also with self-government within my riding as well too. And I feel that these partnerships are crucial. This is the way that we need to be addressing housing together. In the Member's riding, we do have an established working group with Indigenous governments as well. We do have an active community housing plan throughout her riding as well. And with Whati being the first community housing plan to be completed, this plan identifies crucial housing needs coming right from the grassroots level. I would like to see this document as a lobbying document to the federal government. And with the Member's success in her riding that her Indigenous government received a significant amount through the distinction-based funding that was distributed throughout the Northwest Territories. And I continue to be working with those positive working relationships and developing them with the Indigenous governments throughout the Northwest Territories. Mahsi, Madam Speaker.

Jane Weyallon Armstrong Monfwi

Thank you. What capacity building initiatives are being developed by Housing NWT to support Indigenous government? Thank you.

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Speaker. And I just wanted to apologize to the interpreters that, you know, I'm quite passionate about the portfolio and I was speaking probably a little bit too quickly.

So with the renewal, we are looking at the policy reviews throughout the Northwest Territories. And right now, we are looking at 42 of them that have been submitted to the council of leaders housing working group where each of the Indigenous governments throughout the Northwest Territories have the opportunity to challenge us on how we do business throughout the territory, whether it's working or not. In the Member's riding as well too, the close working relationship that Housing has with the Tlicho government, they do meet periodically as well. There are a number of visits that Housing has done within the Member's riding as well and to address housing -- crucial housing concerns at the community level. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Jane Weyallon Armstrong Monfwi

Many Indigenous governments want to directly operate and manage their own rental properties but lack territorial or federal funding to subsidize these units so they are affordable to NWT residents. To increase housing options and support affordable housing, can Housing NWT commit to subsidizing Indigenous government owned rental properties as a part of their service provisions with Indigenous government? Thank you.

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Speaker. And I just want to comment on the distinction-based funding that the Member's riding had received. It was announced that they did receive $42 million. I think it's over a consecutive seven years. And they're coming forward with different plans of what it is that they want to address within their communities as well too. I just want to say that looking at subsidizing housing in the Member's riding, we already do have public housing units within her communities as well that are significantly subsidized already. We are in the process now of lobbying the federal government for operation and maintenance funding for our own units. But we do continue to work very strategically with the Tlicho government as well. It's a partnership that I'm very proud of. We just recently signed an MOU as well which really brings us to the table to be working collaboratively when it comes to addressing housing issues within the Member's riding. Mahsi, Madam Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

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

Jane Weyallon Armstrong Monfwi

Well, I want to say something else, but I'll just -- I'll go and talk to her after because I don't think she really answered my questions, but. So if not, can Housing NWT commit to asking the federal government for additional funding to subsidize Indigenous government-owned rental properties? Thank you.

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The Member's riding is a settled land claim area and is a self-government area -- land claim area as well too. I'm not a part of those federal conversations that they have directly with the federal government. And looking at the housing allocation and the funding that they had for housing and infrastructure funding, I feel that we can meet together; we can work together. But the reality is, is that this is a settled land claim area and whether they want us at the table, they will invite us. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

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