Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Homelessness is a challenge throughout the Northwest Territories and it's not being addressed by just the Housing Corporation. It's being addressed by the GNWT as a whole. Like I had spoken earlier, the ministers will be meeting soon. I will be meeting with the Standing Committee on Social Development, I believe that's right. There are options that currently are in effect, the people can access the Homeless Assistance Fund to pay arrears, if that's the case. We provide shelter enhancement funding that is accessible to any community. Right now, within Nunakput specifically, we're working with the hamlet of Paulatuk, the Hamlet of Sachs Harbour, and the Ulukhaktok, excuse my pronunciation, Community Corporation, which are accessing homeless funds to provide incentives. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Yes, actually the department does recognize that the multiplexes are the most energy-efficient way to provide housing, so we are focusing on the multiplex units within communities.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Housing Corporation is actually looking at bringing in a lot more houses within the communities. We're really focusing on single people and couples for a little while because almost 70 per cent of the people on our waiting list fall within that category. We're also negotiating with the federal government, so I'll be meeting with them early next month to see what they're going to bring within their social infrastructure monies. As well, we are guided by the Business Incentive Policy, which all Members can actually challenge and actually look at and make amendments if they would like to. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Actually, within the Business Incentive Policy that the GNWT utilizes, northern manufacturers must not be more than 25 per cent of the cost for the same purchase to be purchased down south. The modular homes actually came in more than that. The difference was actually more like 30 per cent, so there is a cost savings. We have 800 people on our waiting list for housing, so we have to be conscious of where the money goes. The Housing Corporation though, in all honesty, are still using our community members to do the repairs, so we're not forgetting about them. And again, I will remind you that it was a northern contractor that got the contract to purchase the modular homes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just to start with now, all market housing within the communities were put out to public tender. All of the market housing that the Housing Corporation are currently contracting with are northern contractors, and they were approved through the Business Incentive Policy. The modulars that you speak of are designed to meet the Housing Corporation design guidelines, as well as national building codes which are the same standards used for stick-built units constructed by the NWT Housing Corporation.

As the Minister of Finance spoke, we are still in the middle of looking at the budget allocations. We do know that the federal government is looking at social infrastructure as a priority. Until that federal budget is allocated, we're expecting at the end of the March, we won't know exactly what we'll be looking at putting on the table.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I do look at Housing First as a viable model for addressing homelessness. However, it is one model and one area. Even with Housing First, there will still be other avenues that we need to seek to alleviate homelessness altogether.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize David Wasylciw who has run for MLA a couple of times. He is an avid politician and an asset to have in our riding.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not going to use last names because I will pronounce some of them wrong, but I really want to recognize some people who are in my riding and some agencies that aren’t. I will recognize Denise from the Council for Disabled Persons; Amanda, NWT Teachers’ Association; David from Montessori Association; and Anusa, who is with the Yellowknife Women’s Society; and if I forget anyone over here, it’s because I can’t see behind me. Thank you.