Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Yeah, then, you know, in small communities we have lots of aging infrastructures, even in Behchoko. In Edzo, we have waterline issues while I was still there, when I was part of the community government council, and it was over -- estimated it was over $10 million to replace the waterline. And then we have lots of other infrastructures that are aging, like due to wear and tear and climate change. And I'm sure there were other community governments, they might have highlighted that. So that's why I'm asking why, you know. So with that in mind, I just want to ask the Minister of how much of that...

Thank you. Here, facilities management, there was an increase -- I mean, from 2023-2024, the increase in the budget has been consistent. So if the Minister can explain what is causing these -- why there's increase in these costs. So what is causing it? Thank you.

Thank you. And then in -- according to the budget here that we have, staffing reduction. Can the Minister explain where is this -- is it in all the -- is it -- where is this being taken place at? I mean, like, especially the staffing reduction, is it in Yellowknife, or is it in small communities? Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you for that information. It says here forced growth, Tlicho winter road contract. It's not lots, but forced growth, but that's from last fiscal year. Is it due -- can the Minister explain why Tlicho winter road contract is on forced growth? Is it -- I'm not too sure. Maybe it's -- because I know last year -- last winter season, we had a slow start due to climate change, due to the environment, and this year I know Gameti winter road is open on time but Wekweeti is still not open. So I just wanted to know why the Tlicho winter road contract is -- there's forced growth which --...

Housing in Monfwi riding. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a long sitting, and we can all use a good news story.

On February 24th, the Minister responsible for Housing NWT announced that ten new housing units will be making their way to communities in Monfwi riding as a result of a partnership with the Tlicho Investment Corporation:

Behchoko will receive three duplexes;

Gameti will get one modular single duplex; and,.

Whati will get a stick-built two-storey duplex.

I have said in this House many times that housing is needed in communities I serve, and it is a relief to see progress. It is...

Mr. Speaker, masi. [Translation] Mr. Speaker, thank you. It's at the end of the month, and today is last day of the Indigenous language month, so I'd like to recognize all the interpreters in the house. When we interpret, it's a difficult job, we know that, and I just want to say thank you to them. As Dene people, we love our languages, and it relates to who we are. A good example of this morning is all the children in the gallery, when we say in our language, we don't say Weledeh, we say Wee Lee Deh. So I just want to correct that, and that's where they're coming from is the Weledeh School. I...

Thank you. (audio) program (audio) together (audio) preventative and emergency repair program. That budget is low compared to emergency repair program. (audio) because a lot of is (audio), so (audio) there's a lot of people that are, you know, (audio) especially living in the community where everybody is flown in.

So preventative maintenance program, a lot of people need that program to -- from further -- especially now with the climate change and things are changing and, you know, it does have a major impact, the house is -- the climate change. So how popular is this program? Like, are you...

I know for senior aging in place retrofit and repair program, I know the budget has been the same from 2024-2025, and I know it's a popular program, and this year alone or just this -- yeah, this fiscal year, I mean, they exceeded the fund, you know, because there's a lot of elders that apply for the program and some of them got a denial letter because they used up all the funds that -- for that program. So I just wanted to ask to find out to see if there's going to be any increase to that budget because there's, like, a lot of our elders who are, you know, aging in home. I'm sure this 1.6 is...

Thank you for that information. And I'm grateful that, you know, the Minister and her team went to Behchoko and looked at some of the programs and see how hard many of these -- the people that are working there or the program and the organization are working hard to house their people, you know. I mean, these funds are very important to many of them. So I would like to ask too is that, you know, emergency shelter, I don't think we have that. We have a warming shelter, but it's not the same as this emergency shelter where there's -- there's a facility in Yellowknife, Hay River, Fort Smith, and...

Thank you. Yeah, I just want to ask about this Northern Pathways. Many of these programs are very important, especially to small communities where there's limited facility. So Northern Pathways to housing, shelter enhancement fund, emergency shelters, I want to ask the Minister if all these funds get used up within the fiscal year.