Lucy Kuptana

Yes, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. And I hear the Member, and I understand the concerns. The Tlicho region is really in need of new housing and modernization and improvement of many of their older housing units.

I just want to emphasize to everyone, though, that across the Northwest Territories, housing has rental arrears of $13 million, and this is across the Northwest Territories. So we could use this money to put more houses on the ground in the communities and encouraging everybody to work together to pay your rent, understanding that this money is back and reinvested into communities for new housing...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I didn't get the question, but fairness and equity, yeah, that's really important how we apply this across the board. Again, really important as a government that we apply this, but with the encampments over the summer, we've asked them and we've worked with them and we've counseled them and we've provided them weekly visits and we're working with the integration service delivery team and Housing NWT and the Yellowknife Partnerships Committee. The one big thing with all of this encampment discussion, understanding not many people want to live in shelters, but there is...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, it's really important that we work with the different departments, and both Minister Cleveland and Minister Macdonald know and understand how important it is that we deliver on housing. It's according to our mandate. It's our number one priority of this government. And we're all working in collaboration so we could move forward. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The rental scale, we're undergoing a review right now. One thing I have asked Housing NWT is to include some work by researchers that have done a lot of analysis from housing and housing in the North. So working with like poverty specialists, working with people that have done many PhD dissertations to add their recommendations to Housing NWT. So it's not only housing that's looking at it but we're trying to do a fulsome review that recognizes the challenges and realities in the North. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The territorial housing needs assessment was conducted over the last number of months working in partnership with the UBC, University of British Columbia, and also with PlanIt North. The quantitative portion of the study was concluded early. The qualitative piece was conducted over the summer and fall of 2025. We should have a draft report probably mid November and a final report possibly by mid December, and this should kind of formulate our response of territorial housing needs across the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm just thinking about the question, Mr. Speaker, and how can we eliminate rent for seniors in the Northwest Territories? Understanding the situation we're in for Housing NWT, we have about $13 million in rental arrears across the North. That's the situation right now. And in order to build new homes and maintain what we have, people need to pay their rent. Understanding many times elders are taking on the burden of the entire family, there is considerations and that a $1,000 rental reduction each month, based on their income, is what's provided to elders at this time...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Those units are spread across the city. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Of course I think Housing NWT would be happy to lend some technical expertise if we're going to look at potential power solution, power generation solutions within the elders' facility. And once we have a technical type of review, then we could talk financial assistance. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Chair. President Erin Kelly will provide you information to that. Thank you, Madam Chair.