Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So has the Minister or the department done an analysis of what differences exist, if any, between the NWT system and stand-alone emergency management agencies elsewhere? And if there are differences in roles or gaps that can be found, how we might be able to change or rearrange or reassign current people that we have working within our system to make it more similar to the functions of stand-alone emergency management agencies elsewhere? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm sure everybody's aware over this last year what every province and territory has gone through, even just this last year. You know, and a lot of the problems that have been happening down south are similar to what we've been dealing with. So we really have to look at what we're doing with a standard, not with what other departments or what other agencies are doing, because it may not work up here. So every emergency is different. Every situation is different. That's why we follow the Incident Command System which is a standard. And it's important to follow that standard so that we are similar, operating-wise, to the other provinces and territories. Every emergency is going to be different, and how we operate during those emergencies all relates to the people that are trained in those positions to make those difficult decisions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Oral questions. Member from Monfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is for housing Minister. If I don't get the answer, can I redirect the same questions to the Minister of Finance, or?

Okay, then. This is for the Minister of housing.

So due to housing crisis, can the Minister commit to allocating additional 5, 10, 15, or 20 houses in Tlicho communities aside from what is already allocated in the budget? Thank you.

Thank you, member from Monfwi. Minister responsible for Housing NWT.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You know one thing I love about MLA Weyallon-Armstrong? She don't hesitate to advocate for her region and riding at any time. So wonderful.

But in terms of the allocations for this go-around, the allocations have been set. But understanding there's a great need, especially in Behchoko, for further housing -- and I don't hesitate at any opportunity to talk about the need and use Behchoko and highlight it as we need more housing in Behchoko, in Inuvik, in Hay River, in Yellowknife, in Tuktoyaktuk. Like, looking at the unit condition rating, the age of the units, when the M and I, modernization and improvement, last had been completed. Like, these are numbers, and these are realities, and that's why the Territorial Housing Needs Assessment was so important. It's because the federal government will require data, will require statistics, will require analysis, and using that to provide a good argument to the federal government will strengthen our case.

But at this moment, those units have been allocated. But moving forward, I can't commit to more until we have more money, but understanding the need based on the waiting list. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Okay. She did say she cannot commit. So can I get back on the list so I can ask the Minister of Finance? Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Monfwi. Oral Questions. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Thanks, Mr. Speaker. I'm always so excited.

Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister of Infrastructure. I almost said transportation. Sorry. I'm old school. It used to be transportation.

Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister. And the question really is built around a lot of people had talked about the emergencies, the evacuation that happened to my good colleague -- sadly, of course, in many of these ridings. And they said, you know, when people are driving down the highway, they don't have enough information given to them. And the question was posed to me as why isn't the government starting to look, do some analysis, and look and put these giant billboards that -- electronic billboards that you see in southern jurisdictions. And given the value of Starlink and the opportunity that can happen, we can update highway conditions almost in real time so people aren't caught off guard or driving down without the gas and going, Oh, goodness, I can't panic.

So, Mr. Speaker, my question's really built around that, is would the Minister be willing to look at perhaps doing some analysis on that challenge so we can help protect our Northerners as they travel along the highway? Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Minister of Infrastructure.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So this summer was obviously another difficult time with the fires and the smoke and the fog. It did cause some issues on our highways with visibility. And I hear the Member. Same concerns I had through this. I've talked to the department, and this is something that we're going to look at. You know, so any recommendations on how we can improve our emergency situations like this, I'd be happy to hear them.

So, yes, we are looking at how we can improve this. I know Drive NT has been one avenue that's been used, and they're trying to obviously stay on top of it, but it's not always easy. So, yes, we are -- something we're going to look at for this with the infrastructure. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I gave a recommendation. He's giving me a recommendation. I'll give him one back, Mr. Speaker.

My first question is about could we do some analysis around that, Mr. Speaker. So not to repeat it, but, Mr. Speaker, he did say Drive NT. It only works if you're in cell phone range, and you're not allowed to use your cell phone when you're driving, just for the record. So that said, it's real-time information, Mr. Speaker. So the question, just clearly stated once again, is would the Minister be willing to do this type of analysis that we could have these big billboard systems so we can do real-time updates? If conditions are changing, we can make sure people know right as soon as possible. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Sorry, I check Drive NT and road conditions before I leave my House. Sorry.

One thing I will say is we do have signs up on the highway. We have them in Enterprise. We have them at the junction to Whati. And those are updated for road conditions; however, I will take that from the Member, the recommendation from the Member, and we'll look at what we can do to improve that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Infrastructure. Final supplementary. Member from the Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Implying I don't check Drive NWT almost hurt my feelings. Not to the point of a point of order, but it kind of hurt a little bit.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Would the Minister be willing to commit to having some type of an update to the House before we start the February session? Because capital projects just don't happen overnight, respectfully, but it would be a good update to give people the following into the next session we head towards, the February-March. Could he do that? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I'll commit to having something to the House or for the Members here before the next session. Thank you.

Oral questions. Member from the Sahtu.

Thank you, Member from the Sahtu. Minister of Infrastructure.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, so I know we've been trying to get into the Sahtu, and I committed to going to the Sahtu. We have plans, I believe, in the new year to try to go there because I think we'd like to get up there and not only go and meet about the barging season but also see the winter road and see how it is.

So I am committed to meeting with the residents of the Sahtu for the barging and anything else that we need to talk about. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thanks to the Minister for that reply here. Moving ahead here. In preparation for that trip there, we need a contract so the road can be built so we can drive on it. So will the Minister follow up on the requests put forward some weeks back by the local contractors? And I understand Cabinet approval was given, so now we just need to conclude and wrap up the negotiated contracts for the winter road construction. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member. You got lucky with that last little bit of the question because you were going a different direction there. So Minister of Infrastructure.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, so I don't know if it's right to be talking about contracts in here. But I will follow up with the Member, and we'll have some discussions on what needs to be done there. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Infrastructure. Final supplementary. Member from the Sahtu.