Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm glad we could come together and agree that housing is one of the four key priorities of the mandate of the 20th Assembly. Now that we've made this commitment, it is time to turn our words into action. Fixing up so many homes will be a difficult task, but I know where we could start - by evaluating all the homes in the communities of Tu Nedhe so that we can take those estimates to the federal Minister of Crown Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs so that they can make the investment necessary to get the work done. However, those investments have to go directly to the First Nations. Only through the federal government working together and with Indigenous governments will we see a real progress on housing apprenticeship and training in my communities. The federal government has the resources we need to get these homes renovated. The Indigenous governments just need to secure those resources and ensure that it goes directly to Indigenous governments and that it is where the need -- sorry, and that is where we need the GNWT in partnership to secure funding so that we are able to do homeownership inspections and to help put a proposal together to CIRNAC. We're not asking for much from the territory government, just a commitment to work with Indigenous governments as equals and backing up their case in Ottawa. I know the Premier last year spoke of a future with collaboration with Indigenous governments that shares powers. Why not start working together in a collaborative approach for future now by helping Indigenous governments secure this vital funding? It is not just a Premier vision that supports a greater role of Indigenous governments, it's also the law. The last Assembly passed the United Nation Declaration of Indigenous people, UNDRIP, and the mandates of equal relationship between the GNWT and the Indigenous governments. The GNWT must work to improve housing in accordance with this law so it must respect Indigenous governments want to take the lead. This is a goal. We must start working together soon as possible as people are living in homes that are rapidly aging. Some of them are living in houses that are upwards to 50 years old. If we start now and get these costs in writing, we can get the ball rolling and get these homes repaired and modernized as quickly as possible with federal investment. I look forward to the Minister's response to my proposal when I bring my questions forward later today. Mahsi.
Richard Edjericon on Member's Statement 109-20(1): Improving Public Housing in Tu NedhE-Wiilideh Communities
In the Legislative Assembly on February 26th, 2024. See this statement in context.
Member's Statement 109-20(1): Improving Public Housing in Tu NedhE-Wiilideh Communities
Members' Statements
February 26th, 2024
Page 235
See context to find out what was said next.