Lucy Kuptana

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, transitional housing and the idea of transitional housing just came up in the last few years where many communities and shelters are looking at different options for clients or for tenants. A recent trip to Behchoko, I talked to a transitional housing client, and he had been in transitional housing for 11 years. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize two pages from the Nunakput riding. Nita Lucas and Emery Keogak are from the Inualthuyak School in Sachs Harbour. And just to add, I just want to recognize Nita because she's harvested two polar bears. So that's a pretty amazing individual. Powerful woman in the territory, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following documents: Housing Northwest Territories Annual Report 2024-2025. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, it's a big challenge to staff up and to operate a facility, especially a transitional housing facility. And we do have the request for proposal out. It's out for public procurement, and we hope to select an operator very soon. I'll check on the date and follow up with the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Understanding housing has 99 employees across the Northwest Territories and we take care of 2900 units across the Northwest Territories, working with 23 different LHOs, and we have two people -- two employees in the policy shop. I mean, we have to look at things carefully. Understanding the concern, the urgency around encampments, and this has been ongoing for the last number of years. We have committed to deliver something in spring of 2026 but I'll ask the president of Housing NWT if anything can be done sooner. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Housing NWT and the integrated service delivery unit has been working really closely with all the encampment folks. And there has been multiple encampments throughout the summer and the fall time. We're hoping to move on transitional housing by December of this year. Again, we are providing weekly visits to all the encampments throughout Yellowknife. And there's, again, multiple encampments throughout Yellowknife. But again, these are conversations that we have and we can counsel, but people have the freedom to do what they want provided it's done in a safe...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The tone and understanding in the situation with encampments in the city of Yellowknife is urgent. I understand that, and I understand the urgency and the tone from the Member. Housing NWT is working within its policy shop and looking at delivering an all of government approach in terms of policy. We work in partnership with the Yellowknife Partnerships Committee, work in collaboration with other departments, including EIA's integrated service delivery. We have to have this reviewed by many other departments. We have to be careful in our policy. We can't rush a policy...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm just thinking about the question, Mr. Speaker, and how can we eliminate rent for seniors in the Northwest Territories? Understanding the situation we're in for Housing NWT, we have about $13 million in rental arrears across the North. That's the situation right now. And in order to build new homes and maintain what we have, people need to pay their rent. Understanding many times elders are taking on the burden of the entire family, there is considerations and that a $1,000 rental reduction each month, based on their income, is what's provided to elders at this time...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Those units are spread across the city. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Of course I think Housing NWT would be happy to lend some technical expertise if we're going to look at potential power solution, power generation solutions within the elders' facility. And once we have a technical type of review, then we could talk financial assistance. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.