This is page numbers 5123 - 5150 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.

Topics

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And to the Member, thank you for the question as well too. I have not been briefed on the audit for the Yukon. But the department does keep an eye on other jurisdictions as well too, and looking at how we can improve and do things better within the portfolio as well too and making those changes. But in the Housing Renewal Strategy, it specifically notes that we need to improve our data collection and measurement so we can decide what is working, what isn't working. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it would be of great value, I think, to look at what the Yukon's audit read, and I think that it would also be of great value to look at our 2008 audit that the OAG did on our own Housing Corporation here because a lot of those recommendations are still quite relevant today.

Mr. Speaker, if this audit was repeated in the NWT, I believe the OAG would have similar findings on the lack of information at Housing NWT. One major recommendation was that the Yukon Housing Corporation set up performance indicators, including short-term and long-term targets and outcome measures at the program level. Will the upcoming homelessness strategy include short-term and long-term targets and outcome measures at the program level? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Member as well too because I know this is a document that has been a long time waiting for this government to see. I can confirm today that the focus is on data collection and the measurement as well. But I do look forward to sharing this document with the Members and with the public very soon. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. We have long been awaiting this document and have yet to see a draft on that and very much welcome it at the committee level.

Another recommendation was for the Yukon Housing Corporation to develop and implement a program evaluation framework. We heard in the Minister's remarks yesterday that we don't have a systematic data collection. So will the upcoming homelessness strategy include a plan for systematic data collection and program evaluation framework? Thank you.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I can confirm once again that we would be looking at data collection and the measurement of what works and doesn't work. I just look forward to sharing that document with Members. It should be available, I want to say February 28th was the date that I was provided with. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.

Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, another key outcome from Yukon's housing audit was to improve interdepartmental collaboration. Yukon Housing Corporation and Yukon's Department of Health and Social Services have committed to signing a multiyear MOU, including coordinating their approach to information management. This is also something I have frequently spoken about to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment and Minister of Justice who is also responsible for integrated service delivery. We know so much of our program delivery in this territory is siloed and desperately requires integration.

So will the upcoming homelessness strategy include a plan for Housing NWT and the Department of Health and Social Services, as well as Education, Culture and Employment, to coordinate information management? Thank you.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can confirm that the homelessness strategy is an all-of-government approach. I have been working with my colleagues, Department of health, Justice, and really looking at how we could strategize with this homelessness strategy. And I know that it's a priority of this government as well too. I know the Members have been waiting for quite some time for this. I don't want to put too much information out there until the Members are able to actually receive the document and do a review of the document. I did provide a date of February 28th. And I hope that's sufficient. I myself would like to see this homelessness strategy reviewed and tabled by the end of this government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Jane Weyallon Armstrong Monfwi

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is reference to the last questions. Does NIHB cover the cost if someone from the NWT goes to another facility besides the five facilities identified?

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Minister responsible for Health and Social Services.

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don't have an answer to that question. I'll have to take it on notice.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Jane Weyallon Armstrong Monfwi

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister commit to providing Indigenous-based culturally --

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Member for Monfwi, the Minister took it on notice so it's got to be on another topic.

Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Jane Weyallon Armstrong Monfwi

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister commit to providing Indigenous-based cultural relevant addiction treatment for any Indigenous NWT residents who request it? Thank you.

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, just to be really clear, we have contracts with five addictions-based facility treatments in BC, Alberta, and Ontario. If people are seeking facility-based treatment, they should connect with their community counselling program and get a referral to one of those places. That's the start of the process. And once they're referred to the place, they go on to that place's waiting list, and they are then accepted when a bed is available. And using the method I've just described, the treatment is fully paid for. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Written questions. Returns to written questions. Replies to Commissioner's address. Petitions. Reports of committees on the review of bills. Reports of standing and special committees. Tabling of documents. Minister responsible for Finance.

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document: 2023-2024 Main Estimates. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Tabling of documents. Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document: Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 1178-19(2): Grade Level Outcomes and Data for Northwest Territories Students. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Tabling of documents. Member for Kam Lake.

Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table an email I received February 7th, 2023, from the Office of the Minister responsible for Housing Northwest Territories regarding demographics of public housing tenants. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Tabling of documents. Member for Frame Lake.

O'Reilly

Merci, Monsieur le President. I wish to table the following three documents: 2022 Mineral Resources Act Regulations Targeted Engagement Surveys for Prospecting License Holders; the second one, Mineral Resources Act Implementation Engagement Tracking Log dated November 25th, 2022; the last one, Mr. Speaker, a letter from Kevin O'Reilly, MLA, on Public Participation in Resource Management to the Ministers of Environment and Natural Resources; Industry, Tourism and Investment; and Lands, dated January 13th, 2023. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.