Herbert Nakimayak

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier, my statement was on addictions and mental health and the impacts of accessibility to drugs and alcohol to the residents of Tuktoyaktuk after the opening of the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk highway. Mr. Speaker, my question to the Minister is: can the Minister provide a status update of the development of the addictions recovery action plan? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the response. During the last constituency tour, residents of small communities were somewhat concerned and wondering how the government is going to roll out its action plan and as well as the looking at the legislation for cannabis.

Mr. Speaker, my final question: the Minister mentioned he would work with local Indigenous governments and Regular Members on addictions and wellness. I just wonder, Mr. Speaker, if the Minister could give a few details on how the government will work with the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation on addictions and wellness programs...

I appreciate the update. Mr. Speaker, my second question to the Minister is: what kind of actions will the plan propose to address unique needs of small communities, especially the ones like Tuktoyaktuk are facing and intense rapid change to the community?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway has now been open for just over two months, opening up a whole new world of choices for employment, education, trading, shopping, commerce, and travel. The residents of Tuktoyaktuk have looked forward to this day for a long time, and they're ready to take advantage of the opportunities the new highway opens to them. But, Mr. Speaker, Northerners are practical people. Even when change brings exciting benefits, we would like to know the risks and we would like to tackle them head-on. In this case, increased mobility and...

I thank the Minister for that detailed response. Mr. Speaker, my second question for the Minister is: when can the Northwest Territories expect to see the Corporation roll out projects funded by the federal government's new National Housing Strategy?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this time last year I gave the House an update on housing conditions in the Nunakput region and its communities of Paulatuk, Sachs Harbour, Tuktoyaktuk, and Ulukhaktok. The most recent public data from the 2014 housing survey tells us that almost 40 per cent of Nunakput households have housing problems, with about 28 per cent in core need.

Mr. Speaker, this reflects what I heard in my constituency travels recently. Housing is on everyone's minds. I heard from residents with concerns about overcrowding and others concerned by evictions taking place in the...

I appreciate the response. Mr. Speaker, with the economy slow as it is in Nunakput, it's hard to see anyone moving from outside the territory to the communities where there's no work, with market housing rentals still open, and some remain empty. Mr. Speaker, my final question for the Minister is: how will the Housing Corporation make progress in shortening the public housing waiting list in 2018-2019?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier I spoke about conditions in housing in Nunakput, and my questions are for the Minister of Housing. Mr. Speaker, my first question is: can the Minister provide an overview of the NWT Housing Corporation's rules and procedures for evictions, specifically during the winter months? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have known Doug since I was a teenager playing broomball, and we played at the national level, at the international level, and Doug was always a first-class sportsman all the way through, through winning, through losing, through tough times. I got to work with him for about a year, almost two years here, and there were some heated debates and some very good progressive ones as well. The most important thing that Doug has taught me in the last year and a half is patience, and I have sure needed it this week. I really appreciate that, Doug, and I wish you...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize a couple of people: Mr. Herb Felix from Tuktoyaktuk and Charles Pokiak from Tuktoyaktuk as well. Mr. Speaker, they work for the Inuvialuit on environmental and wildlife issues, so I just want to commend them for the work they do and keep it up. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.