Steve Norn

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Committee would like to consider Tabled Document 30-19(2), Main Estimates 2020-2021.

Thank you to the Minister for the response. Just judging from what was just said, outside the SAFE program, there are no other programs available for residents who have no land tenure in their homes? Is that correct?

Mahsi cho, Madam Speaker. Today, I would like to talk about financial security and the high cost of living in the Northwest Territories. Last week, on Friday, February 28, 2020, the NWT Bureau of Statistics released a report on the state of financial security for residents of the NWT. The findings were based on the results of the 2019 NWT Community Survey. Overall, the results were pretty bleak, in my opinion, for many people across the territory.

Madam Speaker, 20 percent of households, that's one out of every five households across the NWT, have reported they had difficulties in making ends...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I caught some of that. I understand there is some forced growth there with the collective agreement. Just so I am clear again, there is no change in positions here for this department? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you for the response from the Minister. I have to say that response saddens me and upsets me. Again, we are starting this theme now where we're having a lot of programs just in the Yellowknife area. We need to have some more parity. This is a really good example of that not happening. We'll keep on going here, but I just wanted to make that known. Mahsi cho.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have a couple of comments about this session. In your opening comments, you mentioned there was $5.6 million in forced growth, and that goes to increases in territorial police services agreement. One thing I'd love to see, and I know we are talking a lot about moving towards land claims and moving and implementing those agreements with our Indigenous governments. At some point down the road, I would love to see, to do what other jurisdictions like they do in Alberta. There are some reserves that police their own, like the Blood Tribe Police Services. They hire their own...

I have one last question for the Minister. Is there any appetite to change this policy to open up more programs for our residents with no land tenure?

Mahsi cho, Madam Speaker. My question here is for the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. Just to supplement what my colleague from Monfwi was asking about seniors and mobility-restricted people, my questions are regarding people with no land tenure in our communities.

Can the Minister advise if there are any programs available to seniors or people with restricted mobility, if there are any programs available for them in terms of mobility access? Mahsi cho.

Thank you to the responding Minister. That's encouraging. Again, I'm hoping to see more of our other departments working with each other, because this is a multidepartment issue. I am hoping to hear from the Minister whether he's willing to work with the other departments to get this done and have a policy moving forward that makes sense, that will encourage small business owners to get on their feet.

Thank you for the response from the Minister. I kind of feel like I got a contact hit with a bat; not quite a home run, but that's something. I want to make sure that the public is aware of this, too, so my next question is: will the Minister commit to putting a communications plan in place to let the public know, who are living in these units, to be aware of this new program?