Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I completely agree with the Minister that it needs to be a priority and that it stands to not only better serve Northerners, but it stands to actually save the government quite a bit of money on their bottom line every year.

Earlier this year, the Minister spoke about the challenges associated with privacy laws when trying to provide residents with a multi-departmental approach to service delivery. How is the GNWT addressing this and on what timeline? Thank you very much, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Recently there was a report done that looked at our attempts to integrate services and some of the barriers. And out of that report there were things identified such as these privacy issues. And so from that steps have been taken. Departments are working on addressing those issues. So that work is happening, and it is ongoing. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, Recommendation No. 9 of the Report of the Review of the 2022 Audit of Addictions, Prevention and Recovery Services that was tabled by the Standing Committee on Government Operations recommended that the Department of Health and Social Services and the health and social services authorities set up a distinct method for frontline staff to identify barriers to care and cultural safety or propose better practices and policies on an ongoing basis and provide a timeline for implementation.

So will the Minister responsible for integrated service delivery ensure that a similar frontline feedback loop exists for all frontline staff within the government? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. And I wish I could commit to that. You know, I've spoken about that for years. But that's another area that we are working on. And I wish I had better answers. This is a work in progress. When you have something that includes all of government, it is -- it's a big project. You have a number of departments. Everyone needs to be on the same page. Everyone needs to be on the same timelines. Everyone needs to be available for the same meetings and there's only so many people to go around. So we are plugging away at it, and we are taking steps in that direction. Thank you.

Final supplementary. Member for 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.

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.

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

A question for the Minister of Housing. Madam Speaker, increasingly the federal government is providing housing funding directly to Indigenous government. It is critical for Housing NWT to develop relationships with Indigenous government and support the capacity of Indigenous government to deliver housing to NWT residents. What services or support is Housing NWT providing to Indigenous government? Thank you.

Thank you, Member. Minister of Housing NWT.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for 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.

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.

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

Thank you. Minister of MACA.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the value and benefits of sport and recreation of youth opportunities sits really deeply with me. When I was 12 years old, my mother got me involved to become a volunteer and I've been volunteering ever since. I also spent 28 years in the field of sport,rbc recreation and youth. And some of the programs that we developed are still here today. And it's been very beneficial. However -- and I can commit that MACA is continuing to work closely with organizations who work with youth to help develop broad programming including cultural program so that we have positive opportunities. But in regards to what the Member has asked, I can commit to work with the department and committee during the main review to consider future funding because, again, this hasn't been done in a long time. So we need to look at this and see how we collaboratively can work together. And this addresses some of the challenges that I've heard on the floor here this past session. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the Children and Youth Resiliency Program is a meaningful program but it's severely underfunded. Will the Minister commit to look at the current funding allocation and potentially increase it to an acceptable level? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, this program continues to support children, primarily from the age of 0 to 5, for program opportunities to support physical literacy, an important part of development in long -- you know, lifelong active lifestyles. As I said previous in the other question, I can commit to work with the department and committee during the main review to consider future funding for this program. It is very important. It does some really good benefits. It starts at a young age and the work that's done in the community. So, yes, I will work with committee to review this program as well. Thank you, Madam Speaker.