Lucy Kuptana

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, Housing NWT recognizes the importance of the continued radon testing for health and safety for our tenants. Housing NWT would be pleased to share best practices and lessons learned with NWTAC and LGANT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Housing NWT began its current radon testing program in 2024 with discussion with the LHOs to identify units that would meet the criteria for potential radon exposure. Housing NWT continues to conduct radon tests for housing units that meet the applicable testing criteria for radon risk; for example, housing units with a basement or a sealed crawl space. To date, Housing NWT has completed radon testing in the following communities:

Gameti,

Lutselk'e,

Whati,

Yellowknife,

N'dilo,

Dettah,

Norman Wells,

Fort Smith, and

Hay River.

70 of the 76 tests conducted to date had acceptable...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The space is currently not available, and Aurora College currently has the lease, so no discussions have been committed at this time. Should this situation change, the GNWT would reassess whether discussions are needed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Work that Housing Northwest Territories is doing at this time, again like I mentioned a fulsome review, but we also need to look at all the programs we're offering in the Northwest Territories, in our communities, and with our local housing organization who are integral to housing in the community. So we need to provide them updated systems, more training, more monitoring, how are we allocating units, how are we working with the tenants to make sure that we have tenant succession plans in place, the work we're doing with our territorial housing needs assessment. Because...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Member for the question. I think in terms of housing in Northwest Territories, again the concern in the Tlicho region is a concern throughout the Northwest Territories. We have 32 communities that we're providing housing for, public and social housing. We have over, like almost 3,000 units that we're providing supports to. With $150 million investment over the next couple of years, we're going to have a significant new build throughout the Northwest Territories and also mentioned in the capital statement we are repairing over 600 homes throughout...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Housing does have an appeals process and we can always have a second look at applicants that are denied. And one thing we are doing with Housing NWT is normally the homeownership program is the regional centres or the capital, and housing is looking at applications outside regional centres and outside the capital. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Housing NWT offers an affordable housing program. So it's for those that can't get by without Housing NWT's support. So it's for low income affordable housing. And that includes our programs, Mr. Speaker. So we have a homeownership program with home repairs, and we have a public housing program. So the public housing program has its own core need income threshold, and the home repair program has its own home core need income threshold. And I know, for instance, with the home repair program with a core need income threshold, this is gross income between...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Housing NWT has not had a need to date to contract external specialists to mitigate elevated radon in public housing units. Should external contractors be required, Housing NWT will adhere to the GNWT's procurement policies and secure services of contractors certified in this area.

As noted previously, Housing NWT has tested 76 units, and I am pleased 70 of the 76 conducted confirmed acceptable radon levels in these homes. This testing will involve all applicable units being operated within the public housing program, including both stick and modular. Thank you, Mr...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, Mr. Speaker, we have a strong relationship, and this relationship is already established and working well. So senior officials from Housing NWT have held meetings and have been in regular conversation with the president on the Community Services Corporation's project. And we will continue to support the corporation as the details of their renewal project are solidified. It's important to note, however, that when decisions are made regarding the Aurora College, they will need to be redirected to the Minister responsible for Aurora College or any other responsible...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, Housing NWT is very much aware of the contribution of the Northern United Place providing affordable housing in Yellowknife. And we're very grateful for it. Housing NWT has a close working relationship with the NWT Community Services Corporation for many years, and Housing NWT has continued to meet periodically with NWT Community Services Corporation to discuss their planned upgrades to extend the service life of the Northern United Place building and realize added energy savings over the long term. There have been detailed discussions and have...