Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yesterday as my child got dressed for hockey, children in the Ukraine braced for war. As Russia makes the worst kind of history, we must grapple with the best way to be activists for humanity. Again, we face the interconnectedness of the world.

Two years ago, I stood in this House and spoke about the rising cost of construction and healthcare and the vulnerability of the North to surprise events ranging from faulty sterilization machines at the new hospital to climate change, the global pandemic, and now a war that will continue to escalate costs and uncertainty everywhere.

We need to approach this vulnerability differently or simply be overwhelmed by it. Our business-as-usual solution to our priority issues, like social housing, is to throw more money at it. This is a game the NWT cannot win. Supply chain disruptions, labour shortages, and unpredictable inflation will keep us chasing escalating capital and operating costs with little hope of keeping pace. In addition, housing cost challenges across the territory will have huge impacts on housing costs in Yellowknife. We need different solutions.

CMHC recognized this issue through yesterday's $80 million announcement to drive innovative specific to northern housing logistic supply chain and trained labour issues. They recognize building housing the way we are doing it today isn't working. Working within our budget requires creativity, trusted partnerships, and collaborative leadership.

Madam Speaker, the Housing Corporation told this House during our first budget cycle the solution to our northern housing problem is half a billion dollars or partnerships and preferably both. The federal $40 billion National Housing Strategy has made it clear they would like to work with Indigenous governments and NGOs to get this money moving across Canada. We must facilitate those partnerships. Examples of successful public-private partnerships for public housing exist across Canada. Co-operative ventures between the public and private sectors and Indigenous governments are building on the expertise and each partner to share cost, revenue, and responsibility. Fair financial relationships between all parties need to be signed with a common unified goal of housing as a fundamental factor of thriving communities. Examples of this already exist.

The Housing Corporation has transferred vacant stock to Indigenous organizations to renovate with federal dollars. Transferring to NGOs for federal capital grants and has worked with viable and third party construction companies to build housing while the corporation takes on the long-term obligations of operations and maintenance without the capital cost. Everybody wins but no one does it all. Madam Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement, please.

---Unanimous consent granted.

Thank you, Madam Speaker, and thank you, colleagues. These are all great examples, but they are exceptions rather than the rule, Madam Speaker. Finding and supporting these partnerships need to become our priority Number 1. Thank you.

---Applause