Mr. Speaker, last fall the federal government launched the Build Canada Homes initiative, committing $13 billion to kick start a massive effort to build affordable, transitional, and supportive housing across Canada as quickly as possible. With housing needs across Canada so high, every level of government from coast to coast to coast is scrambling to get their share. But nowhere are housing needs more important than in our small communities and remote communities in the Northwest Territories. And the recent housing needs assessment makes this housing crisis clear. But the challenge for our communities is to access Build Canada Homes funding is that while Housing NWT can submit a large-scale, highly detailed proposal, each of our communities are on their own. As a result, the territorial government has the advantage and they will use it to get this funding for themselves and continue to keep the access to housing behind policies. They don't work for our people.

Indigenous communities should be able to lead their own housing projects while still complementing territory efforts through the Build Canada Homes. Our communities could deliver Indigenous-led, mixed income, and affordable housing tailored to the local needs while Housing NWT continues broader territorial and social housing initiatives.

To level the playing field, our communities need an office to coordinate their submissions from across the NWT into a single proposal. It is clear that the Dene Nation was best suited for this role and is already establishing a housing secretariat.

In my budget, I asked for $700,000 to support this work but it was refused. When I raised this with the Minister, she refused to sit down with the Dene Nation chief and to look for collaboration to address this issue. The future of the housing of the Northwest Territories, like the delivery of most programs and services, is with community leaders and yet, through Housing NWT, federal funding through CMHC is set to end in 2038.

This colonial government sees this initiative as a short-term opportunity to take our funding while still refusing to honour our treaties. Our communities, on the other hand, see Build Canada Homes as an opportunity to build their capacity but they need a place to start. I will have questions for the Minister later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.