Kate Reid

Yeah, thank you. I feel so incredibly silly right now, but that was a lot of words and I am not sure I understood what the $4 million is for. Perhaps the Minister could explain it. I am very sorry; it's my own time and it's my apologies to the Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I understand that rental caps and rental control might not be the best solution for the NWT, but can the Minister explain what, if any, policy or legislative review has been done or is contemplated so as to reduce the likelihood of sudden rental price spikes, rent evictions, or other gentrification efforts in privately held rental stock? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In their 2024-2025 annual Report, the rental officer stated that only two successful rental applications for lack of maintenance and repair to the premises made it through. In their words, the rental office continues to receive many inquiries from tenants regarding landlords' obligations under section 30 of the Act, although very few tenants follow through with making an application. I would like to know from the Minister of Justice if section 30 of the Residential Tenancies Act is planned to have a fulsome review and recommendations from the Department of Justice...

Madam Chair, that is all for me. Thank you.

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, Mr. Speaker. I had a thought on this bright and cold morning as I walked into the Assembly this morning, and I know that when we get overwhelmed in this House we often go for a walk to get some fresh air and reinvigorate our spirits. In wintertime in Germany, residents throw open the windows to clear out the stale air, and I hope that I can do a little bit of that today. Poetry does this for the soul. So today I wish to share a poem by Mary Oliver with the House.

You do not have to be good.

You do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles through the desert repenting. You...

That was a dig.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I always like being promoted. It's pretty fun. That's all for me on this function.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I highly doubt that the Minister would share all of that with committee. Maybe he would. But is there any sort of summary that can be given to committee to explain this work as it continues and indeed what the end result is? Thank you.