Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Arrears with this HELP program, yeah.

Masi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, [Translation] I'm talking about -- I'm talking about the people on behalf of the Tlicho, Wekweeti, Gamèti, and also in Yellowknife as well. And also (audio) North Slave region. We have a lot of people here in Yellowknife [Translation Ends].

Mr. Speaker, the North Slave administrative region has a larger population than all the other regions combined; however, that population is not evenly distributed. More than 21,000 people live in Yellowknife while just over 3,000 live across the four Tlicho communities. No other administrative region in the territory has such...

Okay, thank you. Thank you for that information. And maybe it should have been, you know, included in there.

But there's another one too, is that HELP, homeownership entry level and market rental housing program. That's HELP program, is it?

Okay. I know that the last time we were talking, say that housing is trying to get rid of the -- or get out of this HELP entry -- or this HELP program. To date, can the Minister tell us how many -- I know there's, like -- I don't know how many is in the Tlicho region but just to let us know, like how many are these settled in the Tlicho region. I know there...

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, March 5th, 2026, I will move the following motion:

Now therefore I move, seconded by the Member for Dehcho, that this Legislative Assembly calls upon the Government of the Northwest Territories to implement a policy to waive rent for all elders aged 65 and over residing in public housing units as soon as administratively feasible;

And furthermore, that the Government of the Northwest Territories respond to this motion in 120 days.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I know my colleague talked about the home purchase program, and I know that in Tlicho region, you know, it's really, really greatly needed because, like I said, you know, there's a house that's been on the market for three years. No market value, so young people can take advantage of it. And living in small communities, you can't save. So how can you save? You know, because there's -- everything is expensive, fuel, utility bills, groceries. So there's no -- you know, there's no room to save. And if that was possible, I am sure a lot of our young people would, you know, buy. But it's just that...

I will do a written statement. Can the Minister confirm the process used to change, update, or establish new regions of the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Thank you. So they don't have to redo the applications and just move forward. Okay, that's good, then, because, you know, in the past, elders were getting tired. You know, they were, like, upset because they have district office going into their house, invading their space, you know, asking them the same old questions again and taking pictures and it's, like, they're not getting anywhere. So because of that, a lot of elders said, no, don't come in my house because I know I am not going to get approved. So that was the attitude at that time because it's just that the policy wasn't, you know...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the questions are for Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.

On MACA's website, it states that the Northwest Territories has 33 communities that are designated authorities - hamlets, villages, or cities located in five regions. With that in mind, can the Minister confirm if that information is correct? Thank you.

Thank you. Yes, I really do appreciate it. Thank you. I think that will be nice. It's going to help some of our young people, a lot of our young people, and not some but, you know. At least if there is a housing or if there's a -- you know, like, then they can fall back on so they're not really stuck. Because right now, since we don't have anything, they're kind of stuck. And then I just don't want to -- you know, a lot of them to get into an unwanted relationship and because, you know, they are our future. They are -- you know, like, we need to do more for them. So that's why I am -- you know...

okay. Can the Minister outline the process and criteria government uses when recognizing or establishing an administrative region and confirm whether that same process is being applied in this case? Thank you.