Mr. Speaker, this motion calls on the Government of the Northwest Territories to take action on housing as a human right. The motion asks the GNWT to elevate the role of Indigenous partners into the legislation. It also creates a position that is dedicated to evaluating the outcomes of Housing NWT in legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I recognize that Housing NWT undertook a review of policies and programs in June of 2023, and this review led to a number of actions, including increasing collaboration and initiatives with Indigenous governments, improved client services and service delivery through local housing associations. It also states the department will create a comprehensive list of amendments to Housing NWT Act to be introduced in the 20th Assembly.
Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories states that NWT Housing Forum is part of the commitment to strengthen relationships with Indigenous governments. This motion proposes to elevate the NWT Housing Forum into legislation. It also provides the NWT Housing Forum the authority to provide recommendations and advice to the Minister. This is similar to the role of the National Housing Council under the National Housing Strategy Act. The motion also creates a territorial housing advocate in legislation. This is, again, modelled after the federal legislation. The purpose of a housing advocate is to review and evaluate the policies and programs of Housing NWT.
Mr. Speaker, Housing NWT has reviewed and updated their policies and programs. Now we need to evaluate whether these programs and policies are doing what they're intended to do. A territorial housing advocate provides an oversight role to ask the hard questions like:
- Are the policies designed to reduce homelessness actually reducing homelessness?
- Are the programs designed to increase housing affordability actually making housing more affordable?
These are the questions we want to be asking ourselves, which is why a housing advocate should be established in legislation.
This motion asks the government to recognize housing as a human right and to take action in legislation to improve the dignity and well-being of our residents. It speaks to our shared priorities as the 20th Assembly. And I will call on my colleagues to support it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.