Thank you. Member for Hay River South.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yeah, you know, you're already doing it here in Yellowknife, but I think that we're going to have to start looking outside of Yellowknife, and Hay River is an example. And we do need somebody -- like, for instance, the Riverview Lodge, I'll use that as an example. There's no caretaker for it so it's kind of, you know, a free for all. And what we need is -- you may not need somebody there all the time but you probably need somebody there, I would say, you know, maybe 8 o'clock at night until 8 o'clock in the morning. But they could also be, you know, taking a look at the other facilities as well, like the singles. And so we could be using somebody in Hay River as security. And whether it's contracted out just for, you know, 12 hours a day, that would work, so. And the other thing is we do need some protocols in place, and policies to protect the workers because they're going into situations that they don't know anything about anymore. Like, you know, when you're dealing with drugs, it could be dangerous. So I think it's important that we really spend some time -- the department spends some time in developing something to ensure the safety of not only residents but also staff. Thank you.

Thank you. Minister Chinna.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'll take that as a comment as well. But not only a comment, I want to bring that back to the department because if we're looking at these multi-build complex areas then, you know, in the future we're going to have to consider our clientele as well. We're going to need caretakers or securities in those buildings as well too and really recognizing the safety concerns. I don't want them -- want it to get worse before we can just kind of acknowledge and work with it now. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Member for Hay River South? Okay. Member for Nunakput.

(audio) you know, just in regards I was listening to -- I was on a call upstairs. But listening to on the thousand houses being given away and the uptake on that. The uptake in regards to it, are we giving the houses to people that could take them over, or are we selling them the unit? Just clarity on that and the program. Thank you.

Thank you. Minister Chinna.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The homeownership program, I'll have President Young just to elaborate on that programming because I don't -- this is not to cause the barriers but to actually deal with the current situation should the individual be in -- outstanding, yes, in arrears, yes. In arrears, that I would like to see those arrears be paid up currently and then transfer the unit immediately. But I'll have President Young elaborate more on the details. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you. President Young.

Member for Nunakput.

Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thanks for that, Minister, deputy. But the question is for that program I guess, when it's being sold or given to them, is it under the means of them taking over the power, the water, everything like that, and it's going to be given -- like, after so many years, given to them at no cost? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Minister Chinna.

Thank you, Madam Chair. That's the intent, is that they pay the debt up to zero balance and they operate and maintain that house for up to three to five years and there's no rent collected in that time being. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Member for Nunakput.

Madam Chair, no. Just in regards to that, I mean, myself and the Minister, we've been going back and forth for the last two years in regards to something like this. The program was given -- the house was given to the constituent and stuff like that and then next thing you know I said, well, house is given to them; don't have to pay rent? It's given to you, and it's -- I guess the -- I thought it would be forgiven. But all this time it was they still had to pay back the debt that was owed but it was our fault as -- I mean, the corporation's fault for letting them wait two years, two and a half years and having them to pay. Why would that be -- if it's our fault, why wouldn't we take that debt on ourselves as a corporation? That's just a question. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member. Minister Chinna.

Thank you, Madam Chair. And I hear the Member as well too, because we were going back and forth and really trying to roll out this program and trying to get successful applicants. And there was a lot of back and forth going on whether the -- I don't know if we could speak specifically. But maybe just to the situation that an individual may want to go to the bank, outright purchase and whether they're going to pursue a lawyer, there was a lot of back and forth. But I think now going forward, I would like the Housing just to get to the point that here's the program, three to five years, pay your debt, and operate and maintain this unit for three to five years, and then we'll walk away. And I want to keep it very simple. And I've learned from that scenario. But that agreement, it should be finalized by now. We should not be owning that asset anymore. It should be handed over to the individual. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Are these units any single dwelling units that people that are living in right now are eligible for this program? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member. Minister Chinna.

Thank you, Madam Chair. That is correct. But what I've seen so far is some individuals will come up to say yes, I want to own this unit and then they will come back to say maybe not. And then we're still collecting rent but they're not actually in the program. They haven't made up their mind yet and it does become very -- people get very concerned once they have to pay the fuel costs, the utilities and then whatever. So it's a lot of conversation that goes on in between the process. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yeah, no, I agree with the Minister in regards like that. I mean, the fuel prices are just going up and it's going to -- inflation going up all over in regards to the cost of living. But how long are you expecting now, once a person comes to you, and like what's the timeline that -- through your department, what would you like to see on a timeline for approvals? Thank you, Madam Chair.