Caroline Cochrane

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The role of the Municipal and Community Affairs is to support community governments and Aboriginal governments. We take that seriously. We will often help actually drafting some of the bylaws. We provide orientation to new governments on how to do bylaws, what the meanings are, how to interpret them, how to enact them.

When they break a bylaw, we try not to be punitive. Our first step is actually to support the community. If we get a complaint, we will actually reach out to the community government and try to speak to them about the bylaw that they may have jeopardized...

Mr. Speaker, today, on International Women's Day, I am very proud to rise and recognize Ms. Sharon Firth, who has joined us in the visitors' gallery. Ms. Firth, a four-time Olympian, a northern hero and role model, was recently recognized by Canada Post, along with her sister Shirley, as two of Canada's greatest women athletes.

Earlier today, Ms. Firth proudly presented me with a framed set of stamps. Each stamp features one of six Canadian women athletes in a moment of celebration, as well as a full-colour, freeze-frame action shot representing a defining moment in their sports careers.

Mr...

It's been actually quite a while since I've read the act, although I had read it previously a number of times. The biggest things that stick out for me, though, is the gender-based analysis. They are to be looking at all government departments, territorial departments, and looking at it through a gender-based view to see how they impact women, their policies, because some policies do affect women and people of diversity differently than men. That is one of the main purposes.

The other thing that sticks out in my mind is that they are accountable, they are to support the Minister of the Status...

The appointment of the executive director is not under my authority. I only delegate the board of directors. In discussing the position with the board of directors, they have informed me that they have completed interviews and they have found a successful candidate. I can't state when they are going to be starting their position, but I do know that they have selected a new executive director. We are all looking forward to the changes that this new person will bring.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Quite a bit of progress has actually been addressed. The City of Yellowknife, I commend them for doing the ten-year report. It was amazing, and it actually backed up a lot of things that I had been saying, that it needs a continuum of services; we can't just look at one model; we have got to look outside of the community, et cetera.

The City of Yellowknife asked me if I would sit on a committee and work with them on that. I agreed to do that. The City of Yellowknife has taken the lead on that committee. I have met with them once, and we are working towards that. The...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I can commit to submitting the link for that tomorrow. If there is any difficulty for the Regular MLAs to be able to access it, we will provide the link tomorrow. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, it is over two years. For the two years, it will be $217,000. Like I said, we are watching them closely. If they need additional monies, we will support that, and we are also looking at different ways that the local housing organizations can bring in funding. For example, some of the communities are talking about how they don't have access to repairs for people who are over the income threshold, and they don't have supplies. We are just in that policy review. We are looking to see if the local housing organizations can expand to meet not only the public needs in the...

Thank you, Mr. Chair, absolutely. As soon as we hear more and there are firm commitments, we will share that with the MLAs. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to update Members on the progress community governments and the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs have made on implementation of the Northwest Territories Asset Management Strategy. In spring 2016, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, in partnership with the Northwest Territories Association of Communities and community government representatives, launched the Asset Management Strategy. The strategy helps community councils and staff maximize benefits from their infrastructure investments. Implementation has been designed to be flexible and...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, as stated, we do have the annual meetings, and the boards are well aware of it, of the programs. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I should state that we are working really diligently with all of the chairs in the local housing organizations because of the number of program and policy changes that we are implementing, so communicating with them on a regular basis is critical to make sure that this program renewal is effective. Thank you, Mr. Chair.