Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories transition all current housing rating systems to a rights-based approach, focusing on ensuring fair and equitable access to housing for all, particularly those in greatest need;

And further, this should involve prioritizing vulnerable groups, promoting non-discrimination, and empowering tenants in the housing process. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories develop and implement a territorial trades strategy for housing-related trades that offers training and certification programs for local residents and builds long-term capacity;

And further, this program should establish an agency of tradespeople to ensure access to services across the territory and should subsidize contractors travelling to remote communities. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories formally and officially recognize housing as a human right; and further, specifically the Standing Committee on Social Development recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories urgently create new legislation that recognizes the right to adequate housing as it is articulated in international human rights law in the United Nations Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People; and further, this...

Mr. Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories provide more transparency surrounding the specific age and condition of housing units allowable under the Homeownership Initiative Policy;

And further, publicly publish the age of public housing units that have been deemed eligible for the Homeownership Initiative Program. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories the current housing policy environment to identify and implement new or expanded incentives that support the development of affordable market housing. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the Health Status Chartbook, the latest statistics related to cancer are from 2020. Does the department have updated statistics that can be shared? Thank you.

Mr. Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories, through Housing Northwest Territories, enhance transparency and reporting of distinction-based funding allocations to ensure that the needs of each community and the overall advancement of housing in the territory are being met.

Mr. Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories reinstate the 1980's Homeownership Assistance Program, with modern adjustments to reflect current needs;

And further, the Government implement the Northern Transitional Homeownership Model which was presented to committee. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Minister of Finance and this government for their hard work on these estimates. But, Mr. Speaker, I must be honest. Housing in the Tlicho region is in severe crisis, and I do not believe that this budget reflects the urgency that this issue deserves.

Families are living in conditions that no one in this country should have to live in.

Mr. Speaker, this government has said that improving the suitability, accessibility, and affordability of housing is one of its top priorities. I appreciate the 10 new houses allocated to the Tlicho region...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, elders, residents of Behchoko, and even Tlicho workers, have raised concerns about the Rayrock mine site and how nearby lakes could affect people's health and safety. These lakes are not being cleaned up as part of the current remediation work.

Mr. Speaker, the lakes known locally as Alpha, Beta, and Gamma are all connected to the old uranium mining at Rayrock. They are not part of the remediation plan. Even though they are very close to areas that are being treated, active clean-up taking place, sometimes less than 100 metres away.

The question that must be...