Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Masi, Mr. Speaker.

On February 25th, 2026, committee held a clause-by-clause review where the nine motions described throughout the report to amend Bill 34 were carried and concurred with by the Minister of Justice. Committee passed a motion to report Bill 34 to the Legislative Assembly as ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole as amended.

This concludes the Standing Committee on Social Development's review of Bill 34.

The Standing Committee on Social Development recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories provide a response to this report within 120 days. Thank you.

That's what I was going to ask about, is that small communities don't -- at this time they don't qualify for it. Even in Behchoko and Edzo, they don't qualify. We used to have that program there, that's what we were told. And then they -- yeah, they stopped funding that program in Tlicho region so I was worried about that. So do you think you'll be expanding that program, not just only to Tlicho region but to other regions as well? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Member for Mackenzie Delta, that committee report 37-20(1), Standing Committee on Social Development's Report on Bill 34, Trespass to Property Act, be received by the Assembly and referred to Committee of the Whole. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I know that we have no control over the market but when I think and talk about the mine closure, I feel sad knowing the outcome for the people and the environment. With that in mind, Mr. Speaker, my question is for Minister of ITI.

Given the fact that impacts of mine closures extend far beyond employment, how is ITI coordinating with education, culture and employment and health and social services to ensure a unified approach to workforce transition, mental health supports, and family stability for affected workers and communities? Thank you.

No, that's -- it's a real good position, you know. They provide lots. And the people that I know that are in that job in my region, they all speak fluently in Tlicho so they can provide both members, and I really do appreciate that and I know they're doing an excellent job. But it's just that it's, you know, given the time of day, you know, it's -- sometimes the elders, they don't know what to do, where to go, and that's when they call me. And I always tell people that, you know, okay, go to GSO office, go to GSO office. And then -- and they're, you know, like, I explain, the office, because...