Richard Nerysoo

Final question, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. There are two programs available. The homeownership initiative and the home purchase program. Are these programs still in existence? Because I have two constituents who are who have fulltime employment and have been trying to get some answers on these programs but they're not getting any concrete answers. I am just wondering are these programs still in existence? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. These questions going to the Minister of housing. In my statement, I referred to the rent and how it's not working for the tenants of the Northwest Territories in the housing association. Will the Minister look at restructuring the current rent scale?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For the select few who have fulltime employment and keep up to date with their rents, will the department look at homeownership options for these tenants? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. During my recent constituency meetings within my riding, the concern of rent scales has come to my attention by many of the attendees. They are frustrated because it does not work for everyone living in the public housing units.

Mr. Speaker, there are many factors that are related to the cause of this failure in the way that the rent is calculated. The current rent scale is calculated based on the previous year's income. Once your income tax is submitted, the local housing authorities calculate your rent for the whole year. We are experiencing high unemployment rate as...

This approach is kind of sensitive area for me. Maybe if a family orientated counselling services was available or was available in the past, I would have definitely benefitted with my family. Will the Minister and her staff be willing to visit Whitehorse centre to get some information on the pros and cons of this family orientated counselling service? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for the response. Will the Minister be willing to collaborate with the Indigenous leaders to implement these family orientated programs that are in existence in other jurisdictions? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to address the concern that plagues each of our communities in the Northwest Territories. That concern is alcohol and drug abuse. When someone is addicted to alcohol and/or drugs, it does not only affect the individual, but it also has a negative impact on the family and the whole community. At the present time, we as government are sending our own people to southern treatment centres where they do not know anyone, where the culture is totally different, and where they feel lost. Upon returning home, there is no aftercare for these individuals, and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the past, we've been mainly targeting the individual. The families are the ones that are hurting at this time. So I would like to see this government target the families as well, where the whole family's counselled. Can the Minister give me a timeframe on when the department will be able to start the process of consultation to get these programs underway? Thank you.

My questions are directed to the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services. Will the Minister direct her staff to look at these existing programs in hopes of implementing them in the Northwest Territories?