Debates of June 11th, 2024

This Hansard is the unedited transcript and will be replaced by the final copy soon (generally within 5 business days). In the meantime, direct quotes should not be used, when the final is published it will seamlessly replace this unedited copy and any existing links should still work.

This is from the 20th Assembly, 1st 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

Oral Questions

Members Present

Prayer

Funding Opportunities for Mental Wellness and Addictions Recovery Programs

Inuvik Petroleum Show

Change of Name Act

Sahtu Graduation Season

Changes to Student Financial Assistance Offerings for Indigenous STudents

Emgergency Shelters

Folk on the Rocks

Solutions for Education for Indigenous Students

Mental health

Supports for Autism

Frank Gruben Pride Festival

Laura Gareau Retirement

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Report 7-20(1): Standing Committee on Public Accounts Report on the Review of the 2022-2023 Public Accounts, Deemed Read

Report 7-20(1): Standing Committee on Public Accounts Report on the Review of the 2022-2023 Public Accounts, Received and Adopted by the Assembly

Report 7-20(1): Standing Committee on Public Accounts Report on the Review of the 2022-2023 Public Accounts, Response by Government within 120 Days

Report 8-20(1): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on Committee's Initiation of a Project to Conduct a Review of the Land and Water Permitting Regulatory Framework

Report 8-20(1): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on Committee's Initiation of a Project to Conduct a Review of the Land and Water Permitting Regulatory Framework, Received and Adopted by the Assembly

Acknowledgements

Autism Supports

Applying for a Name Change

Meeting Shelter Needs in Yellowknife

Chief Jimmy Bruneau School and Residential School System

Solutions for Education for Indigenous Students

Mental Health Training

Strategic Educational Planning for Sahtu

Incident Command System for Emergencies

Tabled Document 119-20(1): Letter dated December 6, 2023 from Alternatives North to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs and the Minister of Environment and Climate Change regarding Public Participation in a Regional Study under part 5.2 of the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act Tabled Document 120-20(1): Letter from the Assistant Deputy Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada to Alternatives North regarding Public Participation in a Regional Study under part 5.2 of the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act Tabled Document 121-20(1): Letter dated January 30, 2024 from the Minister of Environment and Climate Change to Alternatives North regarding Public Participation in a Regional Study under part 5.2 of the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act

Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Tabled Document 118-20(1)

Mackenzie Valley Highway Business Case Renewal

Consideration for the Hamlet of Enterprise to Receive Top-Up Funding

Extended Adjournment of the House to October 17, 2024

Bill 7: Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act 2024

Bill 8: An Act to Amend the Student Financial Assistance Act

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Tabled Document 93-20(1): 2024-2025 Main Estimates - Industry, Tourism and Investment - Deferral of Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment

Tabled Document 93-20(1): 2024-2025 Main Estimates - Housing Northwest Territories - Deferral of Housing Northwest Territories

Report Of Committee Of The Whole

Orders Of The Day

Committee Motion 31-20(1): Tabled Document 93-20(1): 2024-2025 Main Estimates - Industry, Tourism and Investment - Deferral of Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Lucy Kuptana Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We don't have a timeline yet. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Thank you. I'll go to the Member from Great Slave.

Kate Reid Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Chair. More of a comment than a question, if that's the case maybe budget higher. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Thank you. Next on the list I have got is the Member from Monfwi.

Jane Weyallon Armstrong Monfwi

In June 2023, part of the 19th Legislative Assembly, we passed a motion here for long-term tenants -- for housing or houses to be transferred to long-term tenants who lived in it for over 20, 30 years. So I just want to know since that time -- to be homeowners, that's what we asked for. Since that time, I just wanted to ask the Minister to date, how many houses were transferred to long-term tenants in the NWT?

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Thank you. I'm going to go to the Minister.

Lucy Kuptana Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I will turn to President Eleanor Young for that response.

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Thank you. I'm going to go to the president.

Eleanor Young

Thank you, Mr. Chair. 39 have been completed, and I believe we have another 40 to 50 in process at the time. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Thank you. I'm going to go to the Member from Monfwi.

Jane Weyallon Armstrong Monfwi

Thank you. Thank you, that's good to know. Another one, too, is that here, we're on page 384 maintenance. Okay, the budget went down from 2022-2023 to $13 million this fiscal year. So can the Minister tell us does this -- well, it's not lots, you know, but I just wanted to know if this supports all 33 communities?

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Thank you. I'm going to go to the Minister.

Lucy Kuptana Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The maintenance budget for community housing services supports all local housing authorities throughout the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Thank you. I'm going to go to the Member from Monfwi.

Jane Weyallon Armstrong Monfwi

Thank you. So with that amount, so how much is allocated to Tlicho region of that amount?

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Thank you. I'm going to go to the Minister.

Lucy Kuptana Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm just going to turn over to vice-president Jim Martin here, and he'll get the exact numbers for the MLA. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Thank you. I'm going to go to the vice-president.

Jim Martin

Thank you, Mr. Chair. A total of $2.3 million has been allocated to the Tlicho region. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Thank you. I'm going to go to the Member from Monfwi.

Jane Weyallon Armstrong Monfwi

Okay, well, that's good to know. $2.3 million to support four Tlicho communities. And especially in Behchoko, we have lots of houses that needs repair. I don't think this $2.3 million -- but, I mean, you know, divided by four communities, it's not enough. I don't think it's enough. So I just wanted to ask the Minister if there's any plans in the future to increase the funding for housing repair program for public units? Thank you.

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Thank you. I'm going to go to the Minister.

Lucy Kuptana Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And that's the quandary we are in as Housing NWT, is our federal funding is declining and it's been declining since 1997 through the social housing agreement. Presently, we're at about almost $10 million from the 1997 social housing agreement. But we did receive funds through CMHC bilateral agreement in 2020 which supplemented our operating expenses for repairs and maintenance for public housing. But that agreement, again, ends in 2028. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Thank you. Next on my list to speak I have is the Member from the Mackenzie Delta.

George Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It's unfortunate that we have homeless people in the NWT, let alone our small communities. And the homeless population is growing. We tend to see that some of our residents from the smaller communities are making their way to the bigger centres, the larger centres, because they have these homeless shelters readily available. So as they make their way to the bigger centres, the regional centres don't have the capacity to accommodate all the people that are looking for shelter. Whether it be wintertime or summertime, they make their way -- I know they make their way to Inuvik because we have some homeless people within our -- in our own communities. Is there a plan in the future to provide homeless shelters within the smaller communities in the future? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of June 11th, 2024

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