Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation is delivering an exceptional large capital program to cost share the delivery of 60 new single public housing units. 46 of those units are projected to be completed in 2022-2023, and 14 are projected to be completed the following year. The majority of this funding is coming from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation under the Co-Investment Fund.
In addition, Crown Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada is also contributing funding towards the delivery of 30 new public housing units. Seven are expected to be completed this year; 21 are expected to be completed in 2022-2023; two are expected to be completed in 2023-2024.
This will be the largest expansion of public housing units in the Northwest Territories in over 20 years. The annual capital delivery plan of approximately $94 million involves the construction and renovation of more than 364 housing units in the Northwest Territories. This represents almost a 100 percent increase in capital investment compared to the previous year's $47 million capital plan. This plan includes new and replacement public housing units, major retrofits, and a large biomass district heating project, market housing, and the remaining units for the RCMP housing initiative.
Mr. Speaker, the majority of this delivery is now either already completed or in the construction phase. Over the last year, the Housing Corporation has awarded negotiated contracts for the construction of 12 new housing units being delivered by the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, the Gwich'in Tribal Council (Delta North Alliance); Fort Smith Metis Council; and the Norman Wells Claimant Corporation. Under the Tlicho Infrastructure Corporation Agreement, the Housing Corporation has also awarded the construction of the local housing organization office in Behchoko. The NWT Housing Corporation is continuing its discussions with Indigenous governments and Indigenous organizations to support this extraordinary delivery.
Mr. Speaker, in addition to our own delivery, we will continue to work in partnership with Indigenous governments, Indigenous organizations, community governments, and non-profit organizations to help them access funding through the Government of Canada's National Housing Co-Investment Fund. The co-investment fund application process can be very time consuming and requires significant resources to move through the different application phases. There are currently ten active projects we are aware of in construction phase, two nearing completion of the application process, and more than 20 projects the Housing Corporation are engaged in supporting through the federal co-investment application process.
The Housing Corporation will continue to support applications from across the Northwest Territories as they move through this complex process.
Mr. Speaker, beyond the benefits of adding housing options in communities where new units are built, the economic benefits of the construction delivery can provide meaningful employment opportunities. The committed to working with northern contractors as much as possible to maximize the benefits of these projects.
To support these outcomes, on April 1st, 2020, the Housing Corporation amended its construction contracts to require general contractors to support at least one northern apprentice on work assignments for the duration of the construction project.
I am very pleased to advise that in addition to the dozen apprentice positions the Housing Corporation supports each year with local housing organizations, the new apprentice hire as required for general contractors has supported the creation of 33 new apprentice work assignments to date.
Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories has made a commitment to increase the number of affordable homes and reduce housing core need. In this territory, with support from our partners, we have made and continue to make great progress towards fulfilling this commitment. From home repair and community housing plans to invest in new housing units and addressing homelessness through the Northern Pathways to housing programs, the Housing Corporation and its partners are taking big steps to ensuring residents most in need have access to comfortable, safe, and affordable homes.
Despite the progress being made, there is still more work to be done. The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified the need for affordable housing and shown us that adequate housing plays a critical role in the success, health, and wellness of residents and communities across the territory.
The Housing Corporation will continue to engage with the Government of Canada, Indigenous governments, and the stakeholders to help make housing in communities across the Northwest Territories more affordable and more accessible for the residents who need it most.
I'd also like to thank the staff at the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation and our Indigenous partnerships and our partners throughout the Northwest Territories for this collaboration and this work being done today. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.