Kate Reid

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And thank you to the Minister for that. I was trying to relay an example of urgency and decision-making, and I know that more cooks in the kitchen sometimes slows thing down, but is the Minister finding that there are clearer targets and pathways forward for these kinds of transitional and supportive housing pieces? It's -- I recognize there's lots of work going on in the background that we may not see as Regular Members, if it's -- you're basing your work off of the homelessness strategy, the Premier is basing his work off the homelessness strategy. But I just want to...

Thank you very much. So in the item of emergency shelters, I'm just curious can the Minister please confirm that the reason the funding for that line item has dropped since 2023-2024 is because of a change in which department is actioning that line item or a different reason? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That's a lot of information and great, that explains everything I wanted to know.

I do have one further question. I note that the clean water and wastewater fund on page 377 has been deleted, similar to other departments that have participated in this work. I know HSS has found money to continue and is looking for continued funding around that work. My question to the Minister is will MACA still be participating in assisting HSS with this work? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So the Premier's staff have let me know in writing that the regional partnership will be the means used to implement the NWT homelessness strategy here in Yellowknife. So many former members of that -- of an ad hoc working group on the encampment last summer are part of that table. So, Mr. Speaker, can the Premier tell me if the options that are identified by these partners are also being considered in the near to mid term for transitional and supportive stock? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Well, thank the Minister for that, and I hope that there is some levity that he might be able to offer residents of the Northwest Territories. I recognize many of our insurance companies do not operate in the Northwest Territories so it might be -- prove very difficult for the department but any information he can share, greatly appreciated. More a comment. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

So many lakes, Mr. Speaker. Thank you very much. Mr. Speaker, can the Premier please explain if our main focus and strategy moving forward with transitional and supportive housing is only with building new stock with federal dollars, or will other opportunities being considered? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Nothing further. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in June of 2024, I asked the Minister of Housing NWT about what efforts housing is doing to work with communities to help address homelessness across the territory. Just by happenstance, in the summer of 2024 my riding was home to an encampment, and I became more well versed with how the GNWT is addressing immediate housing and homelessness issues as they arise and what they want to do in the mid to longer term.

Mr. Speaker, after much back and forth with the department on that event, I understand now that EIA is speaking funding to create transitional and...

That's okay, Mr. Chair; we're getting late into the evening.

So my question for the Minister is around the legislation for MACA. Will we be seeing an amendment to the Property Assessment Taxation Act in the life of this Assembly, and will it be developed under the legislative development protocol? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Okay, thank you, Mr. Chair. So in terms of scoping, I suppose, how are we contemplating how that process will look like? I recognize it's early days; you probably don't want to speak to specifics, and I can respect that as things are underway. But if there is anything that you can elaborate on at this point, I'd appreciate it. Thank you.