This is page numbers 3481 - 3522 of the Hansard for the 19th Assembly, 2nd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was housing.

Question 929-19(2): Housing
Oral Questions

Page 3494

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Today we'd like to just, you know, find a solution for housing in the community of Paulatuk. We're really in core -- dire need over there because we have been told today we have 29 on the waiting list. 29 applications. Madam Speaker, can the Minister commit to work with the community of Paulatuk for the housing solutions within the life of this Assembly, and that the 28 people that need a home in Paulatuk. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Question 929-19(2): Housing
Oral Questions

Page 3494

The Speaker

The Speaker Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Minister for NWT Housing Corporation.

Question 929-19(2): Housing
Oral Questions

Page 3494

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I really want to highlight the renewal that I will be tabling today, and it really opens up that dialogue to be working with the Indigenous groups as well and looking at, you know, that we've lobbied the federal government so I know there's federal money coming to the Northwest Territories and in the responsibility for the corporation, I would like to work in partnership in addressing the housing needs at the community level. Today I can just confirm for the Member that he will be receiving four units in the community of Paulatuk, and I know that doesn't address the housing waitlist as he had mentioned of 29 but I will be working with the Member. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Question 929-19(2): Housing
Oral Questions

Page 3495

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Madam Speaker. So Madam Speaker, with the funding that the Indigenous governments got, $34 million into the NWT, how does it work in regards to getting them and holding them accountable for providing -- building units in our communities that need it, or do they just get to sit on the money and pop houses in regards to wherever they think they're needed and we're in dire need now. So how does this government hold the Indigenous governments accountable for housing monies from the federal government? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Question 929-19(2): Housing
Oral Questions

Page 3495

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Speaker. And in respect, I would not -- as a housing Minister and part of the territorial government, I would not hold the Indigenous governments accountable in that way. I would like to approach engagement and partnership with the Indigenous groups and trying to find solutions at the ground level.

I'm not sure of the money that they have -- for the federal money that they would be receiving from the federal government. But as we go forward, I would like to work with the Indigenous groups and work on their priorities as well. But not only that, I would like to share the information that we have as a Housing Corporation and what we built in the smaller communities and how we can be working together strategically. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Question 929-19(2): Housing
Oral Questions

Page 3495

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the co-investment fund is $34.5 million. We have to hold our local Indigenous governments accountable. I'm Indigenous, and we need houses in our communities. We need them sooner than later. They already got the monies. They've been sitting on it for a bit. I've been trying to get in contact with my Inuvialuit Regional Development Corporation in regards to where they're at with units. Nothing. How do we hold them accountable, and how do we get houses and units on the ground for people that the money's intended for instead of sitting on it? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Question 929-19(2): Housing
Oral Questions

Page 3495

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Speaker. With the federal funding that has been allocated to the Indigenous groups, the GNWT had lobbied for more money for the Northwest Territories but also included in the messaging, that it doesn't have to go directly to the Government of the Northwest Territories, that we would support going to the local Indigenous groups. With the distribution that throughout the territory. I don't have that amount of information. I'm not a part of those conversations going forward between the Indigenous groups and the federal government and the further details that are required for that funding. But what I can say is that for the territories that we had acquired the 25.5 million through the National Co-Investment Fund in trying to address the housing needs throughout the Northwest Territories and through that we were able to provide 60 units throughout the Northwest Territories. But I just want to be very clear that we don't have any involvement with the federal money that's being allocated to the Indigenous groups. But the corporation is willing to be working in partnership in trying to help them deliver those units as well, too. Whatever they may decide. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Question 929-19(2): Housing
Oral Questions

Page 3495

The Speaker

The Speaker Lesa Semmler

What is your point of order.

Question 929-19(2): Housing
Oral Questions

Page 3495

Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

For a Member to be asking a Minister from the GNWT to be accountable to federal money that is given to an Indigenous government or to an organization that the GNWT has no say over. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Question 929-19(2): Housing
Oral Questions

Page 3495

The Speaker

The Speaker Lesa Semmler

Thank you. There is no point of order. I think the Minister can take the question and answer it accordingly, and we'll move on. Final supplementary. Member for Nunakput.

Question 929-19(2): Housing
Oral Questions

Page 3495

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Today I just -- we just need to -- we're just short of houses in the communities, and money's been given. We got like, she said earlier, 34 million. 66 houses for the aboriginal governments and another 30 -- or 60 for our territorial government. A hundred twenty something units, Madam Speaker. We need units on the ground. We can't give lip service no more. We need a timeline to work forward to getting this done. And I'm just trying to hold people accountable. It's our job. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Question 929-19(2): Housing
Oral Questions

Page 3495

The Speaker

The Speaker Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. I didn't hear any question in that so we'll move on. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.

Question 930-19(2): Housing
Oral Questions

February 24th, 2022

Page 3495

Ronald Bonnetrouge

Ronald Bonnetrouge Deh Cho

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. I know in the mission statement that the Minister stated there, they used the word "innovation." And innovation is always trying something new and I hope it's just not putting new siding on a House, but. But I really am encouraged by that word and it speaks well to the wood pellet boiler systems that I bring up. And it's not just a word exercise to me but it's to help the Minister and the department in realizing savings and overall there's savings to our bottom line and the budget which we can use elsewhere, Madam Speaker.

I've got the March 29, 2021, letter from the Minister response to my oral question on biomass heating and energy. And it states that the corporation is currently developing its own three-energy action plan. And it goes on to indicate the report will be out last spring. It would have been April-May 2021. Can the Minister update this House as to that report that should have been out in the spring of 2021? Mahsi.

Question 930-19(2): Housing
Oral Questions

Page 3495

The Speaker

The Speaker Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Minister for NWT Housing Corporation.

Question 930-19(2): Housing
Oral Questions

Page 3495

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would have to get back to the Member. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Question 930-19(2): Housing
Oral Questions

Page 3496

Ronald Bonnetrouge

Ronald Bonnetrouge Deh Cho

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. And I believe they were saying that the report would have been another year or something in the making, but. Can the Minister update this House -- or I take that one back, Madam Speaker.

There is a proposed hydro transmission line to Fort Providence which will reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the local power plant. Has the department considered this option as electric heat for the rental units in the community? Mahsi.

Question 930-19(2): Housing
Oral Questions

Page 3496

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would have to get back to the Member on that response. But I do want to say that we have had some environmental savings approaches as well through the Northwest Territories. We do have solar projects that were completed in Inuvik, Fort Simpson, Hay River, Fort Liard, and Whati. And also for the biomass, we just completed a biomass project here in Yellowknife, I want to say in June of this year, and it was for eight public housing units at Sissons Court. And we do have a biomass project that has been completed in Aklavik, Hay River -- or sorry, Aklavik, Fort Resolution, N'dilo, Dettah, and Behchoko. Mahsi, Madam Speaker.

Question 930-19(2): Housing
Oral Questions

Page 3496

Ronald Bonnetrouge

Ronald Bonnetrouge Deh Cho

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. When contractors or others that provide rental units to the corporation or lease to rent unit, whether it is a single dwelling or an apartment complex, I note that the corporation does not stipulate any direction as to cost savings to the corporation. A lot of new ones where the market housing and also the ones to the RCMP. You know, for the provision of using biomass heating systems to these new units. And I'm just wondering if the Minister will develop a plan to include in the contract documents this provision in all upcoming new units. Mahsi.

Question 930-19(2): Housing
Oral Questions

Page 3496

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I don't have that level of detail right in front of me. But as we are looking at the 90-unit delivery throughout the Northwest Territories, we did take into consideration energy efficiency and when constructing and delivering of those units. So I would have to follow up with the Member for those further details. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Question 930-19(2): Housing
Oral Questions

Page 3496

The Speaker

The Speaker Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Deh Cho.

Question 930-19(2): Housing
Oral Questions

Page 3496

Ronald Bonnetrouge

Ronald Bonnetrouge Deh Cho

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. My wood pellet boiler system always gets blown off by energy efficiencies type of thing where you're sealing a door or fixing a broken window. But to stimulate local economies in the small communities, will the Minister look at contracting out wood pellet boiler systems to local contractors or development corporations for the supply of wood pellet boiler system heat to NWT Housing Corporation units? Mahsi.

Question 930-19(2): Housing
Oral Questions

Page 3496

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Speaker. And I like where the Member is going with this as well, too, and I didn't want to -- yes, I'm going to reference your wood pellet boiler system. And also I need to understand the need and demand, the supply throughout the Northwest Territories. I'm not familiar with that. If we were to move into looking at wood pellet boilers, I don't know what the supply is like in the Northwest Territories. So I'd have to get back to the Member in looking at what units would possibly be able -- that would be eligible for that type of transfer and also the operation and maintenance of that as well. And I'd have to follow up with the Member. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Question 930-19(2): Housing
Oral Questions

Page 3496

The Speaker

The Speaker Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Oral questions, Member for Frame Lake.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Merci, Madam la Presidente. I'm just going to say to the Minister, I've got a wood pellet boiler in the House. I'd be happy to show her. But my questions are, again, for the same Minister, Minister responsible for the Housing Corp, and they're about the federal co-investment fund and the NWT carve out. Can the Minister confirm that the NWT carve out funding has now all been accessed and will result in 66 new housing units for small communities? Mahsi Madam Speaker.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yes, the co-investment $60 million has been spent throughout the Northwest Territories. $25.5 million of that funding was applied to by the Housing Corporation therefore we were able to deliver 60 units throughout the Northwest Territories. And additionally, the 34.5 million was applied to and by Indigenous governments.

And with the previous announcements by the federal government, I just want to let the Member know that the recipients of the $34.5 million throughout the territory, the Indigenous groups received were Deh Gah Got'ine Nation, Lutselk'e Dene Nation, Hamlet of Tulita, Yellowknife Dene Nation, and Fort Good Hope Dene, had accessed their $34.5 million. Thank you, Madam Speaker.