Alfred Moses

Thank you, Mr. Chair. By putting these new units, it will help alleviate some of the overcrowding. We don't know the full details or the data of how many people are living in overcrowded houses, but we do know that it is an issue, and we are trying to address it in various ways.

We are also working with the private sector with their investments, looking at building multi-family units and looking at other ways that we can just address the issue. Obviously, we are also looking at a homelessness initiative and other programs within the Housing Corporation. That's about it. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

One of the things that we are doing within the NWT Housing Corporation is going through a strategic renewal to identify some of our priorities, look at our policies, and what needs to be changed to make it easier and better for people to either own a home or get into public housing.

As I mentioned, the community housing plans are going to help us identify those, because we will be working with leaders and the people in the communities for them to tell us what they need, and I think that is a big step.

For transitional housing, I know that is an issue right across the NWT, and we want to address...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, that is correct.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do believe I did a Minister's Statement on the good work that we are doing with the Northern Pathways to Housing program.

Currently, we have one of those programs set up in Fort Simpson that is being managed by the Liidlii Kue First Nation. It is working really well, and I am proud to say that we have helped some people transition into housing or get the support and assistance that they need, whether it is treatment or to get back on their feet. We are going to get one shortly up in Behchoko here, and we are hoping to see some good results out of that. As I mentioned...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In some cases, when we look at some of the units and if they are beyond repair, what we would do is dispose of the unit and just do a new build if it's beyond repair. I just let the Member know that instead of putting all that work through and take the rest of his comments. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

To be honest, I think it's too early to say. We've got to do our evaluation, monitor the SIP home, the solar panels, as well as, like I said, we have to do the research and continue to monitor and evaluate before we look at expanding the program, but we are anticipating that we are going to see some energy efficiencies, and hopefully we can move forward with this.

Most recently, as well the Member knows, we did sit down with the Deline Got'ine Government around other housing infrastructure needs, as well as promoting our housing programs and how we can work together. Right now, it's too early...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I believe Sambaa K'e isn't on the list here for a replacement. One thing that I do want to let the Member know is that, in some cases, you are not going to see some communities on the acquisition list. That's because there are unit condition ratings if the units are over 70 percent or the community had significant past investments in the last couple of years. There might be some vacancies in the units as well. We do it on a needs assessment. Every community, we do take a look at in terms of what is needed. I know, in terms of Sambaa K'e, we have put some investments in...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. When we do the major retrofits, if it doesn't impact the client or the tenant, they can stay in the unit. If it will impact them, then we try to find a replacement unit for them while we do the major retrofit on the units themselves. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. First off, I just want to let the Member know that, when we speak with our federal counterparts, we continue to put the pressure and let them know our challenges here up in the North. We have actually invited the Minister to come up North and see the challenges of building housing units or any other type of infrastructure. It has been a consistent message to get more funds flowing to the Northwest Territories.

In the bilaterals, we are looking at modernizing and making our units more energy efficient. That will lower the costs on our stock. In terms of providing the...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We will get a definition of all the core infrastructure in the communities. We will share it with Members. I do believe that office buildings are part of that core, as well.