Kevin O'Reilly

Merci, Monsieur le President. I think that was a yes, and good work. I appreciate that, thank you.

So can the Minister tell us, though, whether her department is working with other provincial and territorial jurisdictions to change this unnecessary federal program requirement of pre and post energy audits. Merci, Mr. Speaker.

Merci, Monsieur le President. I'll talk today about problems with the federal Energy Efficiency Grant Program that are preventing NWT residents from receiving program benefits, saving energy, and cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

The Canada Greener Homes Grant Program was established in May 2021 by the federal government and provides cash grants up to $5,000 to private homeowners for energy efficiency retrofits. To receive the grant, applicants must have home energy audits done both before and after retrofits. The Arctic Energy Alliance is the only provider of such audits in the NWT that's...

Thanks, Madam Chair. I move that the chair rise and report progress.

Yeah, thanks, Madam Chair. Yeah, look, I get that there's probably issues with sustainability and finding the money, but if we don't have a plan to get our housing out of core need, you can't formulate we can't formulate an ask to Ottawa, and we don't have a plan to deliver adequate affordable, and I think it's suitable, housing for our residents. That's the importance of getting this plan together. I've been asking for it now for six years. I know we had the On Level Ground report in the last Assembly that was getting closer to it. But if you don't if we don't have that plan, you can't go...

Thanks, Madam Chair. I don't if I should laugh or cry.

Okay, clearly we're not spending enough on housing. I think I made the point. I really look forward to seeing this 20year capital plan that's going to cost a billion dollars.

So I think I heard a commitment, though, as well to the Member for Kam Lake that there was going to be some kind of a an outline or a rough plan for getting our housing out of core need. Is that what I heard? Thanks, Madam Chair.

If you want to call me a Minister, I'll take it. Thanks, Madam Chair.

The so next question, is there any calculation of, like, deferred maintenance for the Housing Corp, and what is that figure and what does it mean? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thanks, Madam Chair. And thanks to the MLA from Nunakput for giving me his time.

I'm trying to reconcile that the news release that went out a couple days ago from Housing Corp that says there's an extra $93 million for a number of units versus what I'm looking at here in the capital estimates. So I guess this $93 million is federal money, or a good part of it is. Why is it not shown here as a federal contribution; why is this kind of like off the books somehow. You know, we get other federal money and it's showed as money in and then money expended, but it doesn't look this way for the Housing...

Thanks, Madam Chair. Our committee wishes to consider Committee Report 18, Committee Report 19, Bill 24, Tabled Document 43719(2) Capital Estimates 20222023, Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. Thanks, Madam Chair.

Merci, Monsieur le President. While I'm on a role, I got two, I'm going to keep going. So while the pre and postaudit requirements are a problem, the other one is a lack of certified auditors to carry out the audits, the energy audits, and the cost of training monitors. What steps is the Minister taking to help increase the number of energy auditors, and is any additional funding being provided to Arctic Energy Alliance to help fix this problem? Merci, Mr. Speaker.

Merci, Monsieur le President. I'm going to go to a different superduper Minister with my questions, and they're for the Minister of Infrastructure who has responsibility for the Arctic Energy Alliance.

Can the Minister tell us whether she's aware of the difficulties caused by the federal energy pre and postaudit requirements under the Canada Greener Homes Grant program, and what is she doing to fix that problem? Merci, Mr. Speaker.