Shauna Morgan

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to draw attention to the growing population experiencing homelessness in Yellowknife and the nonprofit emergency shelters whose capacity is being completely overwhelmed. The last time the city of Yellowknife did a pointintime count in 2021, it was estimated that at least 312 people were experiencing homelessness in Yellowknife, the vast majority of whom are Indigenous, and 99 people at that time were staying regularly in emergency shelters. But the numbers have gone up a lot more since then.

The stress of COVID lockdowns resulted in more...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So there's been some sort of concerns circulating amongst constituents that programs for homeownership assistance are being cut or they won't have opportunities to get help in purchasing homes. Now, I do see that the home purchase program is being maintained. If we go back to page 383, we certainly see a bit of a decrease in the homeownership entry level program. Can the Minister explain, so that it's clear to everyone in the public too, are some of the homeownership assistance programs being cut, and is there a shift towards a different type of assistance towards...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I do hope we have much more indepth conversations, you know, from here on in going forward as to how we can address some of these challenges and problems because I think this gets at the crux of we are all so desperate to try and improve our housing stock and increase stock, and if we're having these bottlenecks or problems, like, we really need some detailed plans and sort of getting everyone on board to figure out how we can work together to address them. So I look forward to those continued conversations.

One more question about apprentices. So are we able to use all of...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So was this budget being fully used? Was it fully subscribed before the sunsetting? Like, is there a need for at least, you know, $6.6 or even $7.1 million worth of modernization and improvements? That was the number from 20222023. If we could find that money, could you use it? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So if there was a need for a bigger renovation to keep a unit, you know, liveable, to keep it someone housed there, what line item or where would that come out of the budget?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, June 13th, 2024, I will move the following motion:

I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River North, that notwithstanding Rule 2.1, when this House adjourns on Thursday, June 13th, 2024, it shall be adjourned until Thursday, October 17th, 2024;

And further, that any time prior to October 17th, 2024, if the Speaker is satisfied after consultation with the Executive Council and Members of the Legislative Assembly that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during the adjournment...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So can the Minister tell us when will we be able to see more transitional housing units planned for Yellowknife to help those who are currently on the street struggling with addictions and trauma? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

That's fine. I mean, I look forward to reading their report and following up. But I do think we need to have some more independent evaluation of the program before, as my colleague recommended, we, you know, start radically increasing the funds that we're putting into this line item. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And so these upgrades, are they set out in, say, an asset management plan? Like, is there a plan with scheduled upgrades that, you know, is justified based on expected, you know, life of certain parts of our assets, or are they expected -- you know, need for replacement and maintenance at certain times? Are these upgrades part of such a plan that, you know, has been thought through and listed what upgrades are required at which dates?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Does the department or the Minister intend to do any independent economic analysis to verify those claims that participants are reporting, especially given that if they're the ones getting the money there's definitely an incentive -- no pun intended, although there's a pun there -- to make those figures look as good as possible? Thank you, Mr. Chair.