Debates of Sept. 29th, 2023

This is page numbers 6565 - 6646 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 know.

Topics

Oral Questions
Members Present
Prayer
Indigneous Government Partnerships and Capacity Building
Government of the Northwest Territories Seniors' Strategic Framework
2023 Territorial Wildfire Emergency Response
Reconciliation
Reconciliation
Reconciliation
Amalgamation of Hay River Health and Social Services Authority and NWTHSSA
Government of the Northwest Territories Compliance with Archives Act
Truth and Reconciliation
Lutselk'e Dene First Nation Caribou Enforcement
Housing
Business Incentive Policy
Truth and Reconciliation
Climate Action
Reconciliation
Eulogy for Alice Jane Pellissey
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Amalgamating Hay River Health and Social Services Authority into Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority
Northwest Territories Archives and Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre
Housing
Lutselk'e Dene First Nation Caribou Enforcement
Climate Action
Housing
Business Incentive Policy
Independent Review of the 2023 Fire Season
Dredging in Hay River
Housing
Bill 75: Council for Women and Gender Diversity Act
Tabled Document 1006-19(2): Northwest Territories 911 2022-2023 Annual Report Tabled Document 1007-19(2): Municipal and Community Affairs Wildfire 2023 - High Level Chronology
Tabled Document 1008-19(2): Mineral Resources Act - Regulation Development Status Report Tabled Document 1009-19(2): 2022-2023 Annual Report NWT Business Development and Investment Corporation Tabled Document 1010-19(2): Public Accounts of the Government of the Northwest Territories for the Year Ended March 31, 2023 - Section II - Interim Non-Consolidated Financial Statements
Tabled Document 1011-19(2): Government of the Northwest Territories Seniors' Strategic Framework Tabled Document 1012-19(2): 2023-24 Health and Social Services Authority Budgets
Tabled Document 1013-19(2): Request for Proposals for Environment and Climate Change - NWT 2023 Wildfire Response Review
Taxation of Vaping Products under Coordinated Vaping Taxation Products Agreement
Extended Adjournment of the House to October 3, 2023
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Tabled Document 973-19(2): 2024-2025 Capital Estimates - Deferral of Estimates
Tabled Document 974-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2023-2024 - Deferral of Estimates
Committee Report 61-19(2): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on the Review of Bill 81: An Act to Amend the Education Act, No. 2 - Engagement Process
Committee Report 61-19(2): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on the Review of Bill 81: An Act to Amend the Education Act, No. 2 - Absenteeism
Committee Report 61-19(2): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on the Review of Bill 81: An Act to Amend the Education Act, No. 2 - Absenteeism
Committee Report 61-19(2): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on the Review of Bill 81: An Act to Amend the Education Act, No. 2 - Wrap-Around services
Committee Report 61-19(2): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on the Review of Bill 81: An Act to Amend the Education Act, No. 2 - Support for Students with Disabilities
Committee Report 61-19(2): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on the Review of Bill 81: An Act to Amend the Education Act, No. 2 -Territorial-based Support Team
Bill 81: An Act to Amend the Education Act, No. 2
Bill 94: Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2023
Bill 93: Practice of Engineering, Geoscience and Applied Science Technology Act
Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Bill 77: Nursing Profession Act
Recorded Vote
Orders Of The Day

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

September 29th

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Mr. Martin

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Jim Martin

Yeah, thank you, Madam Chair. Currently right now, we have approximately 2,700 owned housing units within our inventory. So it's approximately 2,300 public housing, 250 market, and about a hundred -- well, based on the last count, 186 HELP, Homeownership Entry Level Program, units. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

September 29th

Page 6593

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Member for Kam Lake.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. What I'd like to know is if these units that are incurring major retrofits, are they currently empty or are they currently being lived in. If they're empty, then I would assume this will reduce the wait time. And so I'm wondering if Mr. Martin can also speak to that. Thank you.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Page 6593

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Minister.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Mr. Martin, please.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Page 6593

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Mr. Martin

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Jim Martin

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, like, our programs working closely with the districts program staff, working closely with districts and LHOs, yes, as the units become available, they are allocated in a very timely manner. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Page 6593

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. I think the question was is are the units that are on the list currently empty, or are they occupied? Thank you.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Madam Chair, I'm not sure if we have an occupancy list necessarily with respect to planning, but if we do -- let me see if we can get it. I'm just conscious of the time. We certainly can provide that if we don't have it handy. Thank you.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

September 29th

Page 6593

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Mr. Martin

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

September 29th

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Jim Martin

Thank you, Madam Chair. According to a recent report, we have about 58 units that are vacant and now ready for occupancy. So they're in the process of being filled as soon as possible. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

September 29th

Page 6593

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Member for Kam Lake.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

September 29th

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Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. So will this influx of $13 million and major retrofits reduce the wait time for housing in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

September 29th

Page 6593

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister of Finance.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Chair. I mean, that is certainly -- that is the logical conclusion. Thank you.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

September 29th

Page 6593

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Member for Kam Lake.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm going to go back to that one because I'd like to hear it from housing because I'm not going to make assumptions on that one. Thank you.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

September 29th

Page 6593

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Mr. Martin

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Jim Martin

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, most definitely. As we can complete our retrofits with the resources we have available, the communities come online as soon as possible and allocations do occur as soon as possible as well. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

September 29th

Page 6593

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Member for Kam Lake.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

September 29th

Page 6593

Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I've got about a minute left, and so I'm wondering there's about a hundred units here out of the stock of 2,700, how many are still waiting or in need of major retrofits in order to bring our housing stock out of core need? Thank you.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

September 29th

Page 6593

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Minister of Finance.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

To Mr. Martin, please.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

September 29th

Page 6593

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Mr. Martin