Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Will the Minister of Health commit to reopening an addictionbased facility and treatment and wellness centre in the Northwest Territories?

Okay, thank you for that. Why doesn't the Minister listen to the will of the people and develop a plan to open a traditional Indigenous healing territorial addiction treatment program? Can the Minister provide data on the number of injuries or death related to drugs and alcohol since 2013, since the treatment centre was closed in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Thank you treatment programs. Madam Speaker, according to the Canadian history, it is well documented that explorers and traders introduced alcohol in different ways to the Indigenous people, including the consumption of alcohol in official dealings and as a trade item. In other words, alcohol was used as a tool to influence Indigenous people and to benefit the explorer and fur traders. When alcohol was introduced to our people, alcohol abuse and destruction followed.

This alcohol abuse has continued over decades as Indigenous people in the Northwest Territories have continued to survive the...

Yes, yes, thank you. I would like to sit down with her and, you know, talk about this, and then possibly with the Tlicho government to promote tourism industry and regarding the visitors centre as well, because now that there's the allseason road going to Whati, you know, visitors centre is necessary in Tlicho region. It doesn't matter where it goes, either in Behchoko or in Whati, but there is a road there. So I really support that. And then I would like this government to continue working with the Tlicho government to support this initiative. So, yeah, so that is good. It's a good sign, I...

Yes, I understand about that being part of a community government council, yes, I do I do understand about how that we can you know, how to how to spend the money, where to spend the money. But I'm just saying that right now that in my region we have major infrastructure issues. And it's even to change the waterline that's aging especially in Edzo that's connected to the school, you know, that's going to cost, like, over $10 million. And I don't know like, that's why I'm saying it would be nice to see the numbers, like, how much money will be allocated to my region. And it says here...

Due to housing crisis, what we need is action. Mr. Speaker, how can this Assembly help the Government of the Northwest Territories transfer housing properties to the Indigenous government faster? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, this is regarding the bilateral agreement. So Mr. Speaker, many of our Indigenous governments have a keen interest in increasing the housing stock of their regions and communities. In its new mandate, the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation commits to pursuing government to government relations with Indigenous government as she mentioned. This is a welcomed change towards developing bilateral relationships. Most of our Indigenous government are very interested in taking responsibility and taking over housing assets from the GNWT. I want to ask the Minister, what is the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I raise earlier this sitting that many elders are having difficult time with significant debts to the Housing Corporation for many, many years ago. In many cases, the elders are not aware of why the debt is owed. The Housing Corporation is in many cases garnishing their income which means the Housing Corporation takes a significant chunk of every modest paycheque they make. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister commit to direct her officials to immediately enter a stay of execution of existing garnishee orders registered against elders by the Housing Corporation...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, it would have been nice to have seen the numbers since the formula is based on per capita and needs. And, you know, like I've said it before, in my region alone, you know, like we have a lot of aging infrastructure. Our water pipes need to be replaced. So we have a lot of buildings that are aging that needs attention as well. And it would be nice to see, you know, the numbers, how much money is going spend going to be spent in my region based on per capita. There's over 2,000 people in my region alone, and in Behchoko alone is 1,900. And the smallest community is...

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, with that in mind that she just mentioned, you know, to have a relationship with the Indigenous government, then what I would like to see this government do, then, is transfer the 14 units that the Tlicho government are asking for, I would like to see that happen. You know, if they're going to continue have a good working relationship with the Indigenous government. So the federal government seems interested in supporting housing stocks being transferred to Indigenous governments. Is the GNWT receiving assistance in facilitating these transfers? Thank...