Caroline Cochrane

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.

The NWT Housing Corporation is interested in looking at all different designs of homes, and we do traditionally put them out to tender. Thank you.

As stated earlier, there are the three communities that work in partnership already. As well, we're in preliminary discussions with, and my pronunciation is going to slaughter me here, Aimayunga Women and Emergency Foster Care Shelter in Tuktoyaktuk about the Shelter Enhancement Fund for 2016 and 2017.

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. 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...

As most Members know, I'm assuming, is that homelessness is not just one department. Housing is not the only department. The whole GNWT has different aspects of homelessness, so at the current time the GNWT is looking internally. We'll be working with the departments and with the Standing Committee on Social Development, which I met with the chair yesterday and asked to get a meeting immediately, as soon as your committee is formed, so that we can all work together in addressing homelessness and looking at what the wraparound services would look like.

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.