Richard Edjericon

Member Tu Nedhé-Wiilideh

Richard Edjericon was first elected to represent the district of Tu Nedhé-Wiilideh in by election during the 19th Assembly in 2022 and was re-elected to the 20th Assembly later the next year.

A descendant of Treaty 8 Chipewyan signator Chief Oliver Edjericon, Richard Edjericon was born and raised in Little Buffalo River near Fort Resolution. He attended Diamond Jenness Secondary High School in Hay River and Akaitcho Hall in Yellowknife.

Obtaining his journeyman carpenter’s certification from Thebacha College in Fort Smith, Mr. Edjericon has nearly four decades of experience as a journeyman certified carpenter working through out the Northwest Territories and Nunavut in residential and commercial construction.

Eventually his work in construction brought him to the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation as the North Slave Maintenance Coordinator. He would also become the General Manager for the Yellowknives Dene First Nation Housing Division.

Mr. Edjericon’s dedication to his community led him to seek the position of Elected Head Chief for Dettah and the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, holding that office from 1999 to 2003. He also became the Acting Grand Chief Spokeperson on behalf of the Akaitcho Chiefs for the Akaitcho Territory Government. He later joined the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board in 2007 and soon became chair, reappointed to this position in 2011.

Mr. Edjericon’s proudest moments include settling boundary disputes, signing political accords, creating fairer nation to nation relationships, and fostering economic development. As MLA he brings with him a passion for a fairer, more prosperous North, and a great depth of knowledge in housing, economics, and politics. He lives in Ndilo with his wife, Aleida.”

Tu Nedhé-Wiilideh Electoral District

Committees

Accountability and Oversight
Board of Management
Government Operations
Richard Edjericon
Tu Nedhé - Wiilideh
Member's Office

Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Canada

P.O. Box
1320
Email
Email
Phone
867-767-9143
Extension
12185
Cell
867-445-8298
Constituency Office
Email
Email
Phone
867-447-0439

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 139)

Mr. Chairman, I've already asked some questions, but I got two more questions. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to mention that? Okay, can I ask my two questions? Okay, thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I'm just trying to figure out how we could continue to build new relationships with Indigenous governments here in the Northwest Territories. And I'm just trying to figure a way, because last year I sent a letter to the Minister of the Housing Corporation going back to June 10th, 2022, and regarding Housing NWT repairs or homeownership replacement for Tu NedheWiilideh riding. And based on my tour...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 139)

Okay. So would you be able to provide us the House in regards to the breakdown of that so that I could see it in front of me so that I understand where the money went to, because whenever we make commitments, I mean we got to make sure we're on top of that and I just want to make sure that I understand where the money's gone to. So will the Minister commit to that? Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 139)

That's correct. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 139)

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In this budget this year, CMHC has you guys have a $20 million budget there to get from CMHC too for your operation and maintenance. What's going to happen here now in 2036? It's going to come to an end so how is Housing NWT going to start dealing with public housing after 2036? What is your plan? Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 139)

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In regards to, say, if there was a client that you had that lives in these Webber units and were interested in purchasing that unit but they have arrears, is there a way that you guys could have a plan to work with the homeowner to look at maybe liquidating these units even though it's at, you know, 40 or 50 years old and say if it's rated at 45 percent on unit condition rating, would you guys be able to look at something like that? Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 139)

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Say if there's a unit now that's a little bit newer, say whether it's 20 or 30 years old with a higher unit condition rating, if a family is living in there, say they have some adult siblings and there's only one income, so would that homeowner take into consideration the older siblings or that kind of thing or children as a dependant so that it could be calculated in the sale of that house? You know what I'm saying? Because you got one because we got big families, eh, in our communities. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 139)

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just got a few questions. You already mentioned that they're going to be completing the housing strategy renewal by April 1st, 2023. Are we on track to have that completed on April 1st? Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 139)

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to the Minister for your response. I think it's a really good idea that I like what you've done in Fort Good Hope. You were there last fall and we like what we seen there too as well. So I guess maybe what I could do is if I want to make sure I want to be very clear that what I'm asking for is separate and outside from what the housing strategies that's already ongoing in the communities of YKDFN and Dettah and sorry, Lutselk'e and Fort Resolution. This here is a separate little project where we could just really work together and identify what the...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 139)

Yeah, just a comment. Again, I just want to say that small communities do matter. Housing in the communities are in great supply; we need money, we need to come up with a plan. So again yesterday I mentioned that we're going to have start working closely with Indigenous governments. Again, going forward, I'm just and I kind of heard some of the responses yesterday, so. Anyway, 2038 is just around the corner whenever you think about it. And thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 139)

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Last year when the budget was approved and we went through it, there was a commitment made of $5 million to be added into housing. And the question I have is that if there was a commitment made by the Finance Minister that that money's going into housing, I want to know from the Minister, did you get that money, and where did the money go to and which community was impacted? Thank you.