Kate Reid

Thank you. Mr. Speaker, the Standing Committee on Social Development discussed the topic of rent scales and rent control in Committee Report 29-20(1), but due to the complexity and contentiousness of the feedback that they received, chose not to make any recommendations. Instead, they stated that consideration of these topics should fall to any future reviews the GNWT undertakes on the Residential Tenancies Act.

The Minister of Justice has noted publicly that in the 17th Assembly, when rent caps were last discussed under the Act, that the Assembly rejected these measures as not being fit for...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I got really excited because my last question was about the last page of the business plan, the very last page, so in the entire, huge business plan that we have. I know I get excited about weird things, Madam Chair. That would be the evaluation plan for Housing Northwest Territories. I am specifically interested in the market rental program. It's not going to be in the 2026-2027 -- or, yeah, not in the 2026-2027 year but in the 2027-2028 year, and it's noted to be in the initial planning stage. Could the Minister please provide some details and substantiation around...

Thank you, Madam Chair. And I guess all of this is sort of culminating to my main question, and it sounds like more work needs to be done to understand as new assets come online with health, which is how does Housing NWT expect to continually fund this new division? I assume it's being made permanent. And if new assets come online, will the costs to housing decrease? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. And I believe there might have been a breakdown shared with committee but if not, hopefully the Minister can share that with committee in writing. That would be wonderful. It's been a long two-ish months, Madam Chair. I apologize if people have already seen that before.

So regarding the operations and approach to staffing for the YK day shelter and sobering centre, I understand that that is sort of a temporary holding spot while the wellness and recovery centre comes online. Is there any contemplation, then, of how that may shift when the wellness centre is available...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I don't want to ask any further questions on that before the Minister has announcements later this week, so I will stop there right now.

Thank you, Madam Chair. And just for clarity, if you're finding $4 million internally, where was the $4 million coming from? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, on page 378 of the main estimates, the line item for minor modernization and improvements, there is a significant jump from slightly over $5 million to just slightly over $9 million. And then in the same key activities, grants, contributions, and transfers, there is a minor jump also in maintenance. Can the Minister please speak to the substantiation around improvements and maintenance costs going up. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I just want to clarify if I heard the Minister correctly. Can he explain if further policy work and legislative amendments will contemplate less onerous practices for tenant-landlord disputes over safety and repair of units and rental complexes? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too wish to welcome all the Ontario interns. I especially want to wish a warm welcome to Rob Ashton, NDP leadership candidate, and Sara Jayne Dempster, President of the Northern Territories Federation of Labour. Thank you for visiting us today and enjoy the proceedings. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. And that's really good news. I am hopeful that that means that the items that are slated for this upcoming fiscal year, being the emergency repair program evaluation and the homeownership repair program evaluation are on schedule. Thank you, Madam Chair.