Debates of March 11, 2025 (day 53)

March
11
2025
Session
20th Assembly, 1st Session
Day
53
Speaker
Shane Thompson
Word PDF
Members Present
Hon. Caitlin Cleveland, Mr. Edjericon, Mr. Hawkins, Hon. Lucy Kuptana, Hon. Jay Macdonald, Hon. Vince McKay, Mr. McNeely, Ms. Morgan, Mr. Morse, Mr. Nerysoo, Ms. Reid, Mr. Rodgers, Hon. Lesa Semmler, Hon. R.J. Simpson, Mr. Testart, Hon. Shane Thompson, Hon. Caroline Wawzonek, Mrs. Weyallon Armstrong
Assembly Members
Topics
Bill 22: Legislation Act
Member’s Statement 584-20(1): Environmental Assessment
Member’s Statement 585-20(1): Addressing the Effects of Trauma
Member’s Statement 586-20(1): Primary Healthcare Access
Member’s Statement 587-20(1): Economic Outlook for the Northwest Territories
Member’s Statement 588-20(1): Illegal Drug Activity in Public Housing
Member’s Statement 589-20(1): Arctic Security Council
Member’s Statement 590-20(1): Frostbite 55
Member’s Statement 591-20(1): Junction Lights on Highway 5
Member’s Statement 592-20(1): Aurora College Community Learning Centres
Member’s Statement 593-20(1): Federal Defence Spending in the Northwest Territories
Member’s Statement 594-20(1): Recognition of Gavin Wilkes
Minister’s Statement 114-20(1): Building Resilience Together – Advancing Climate Adaptation in the Northwest Territories
Minister’s Statement 115-20(1): Collaboration with Indigenous Governments
Motion 51-20(1): Affirmative Action Policy
Motion 52-20(1): Strengthening Support for Nurses and Healthcare Workers
Motion 53-20(1): Reappointment of Members to the Human Rights Adjudication Panel
MOTION 53-20(1): Reappointment of Members to The Human Rights Adjudication Panel, Carried
Motion 54-20(1): Extended Adjournment of the House to May 22, 2025
Question 621-20(1): Federal Defence Spending in the Northwest Territories
Question 622-20(1): Committee on Internal Trade
Question 623-20(1): Harm Reduction Supports
Question 624-20(1): Physical Assets of Aurora College Community Learning Centres
Question 625-20(1): Indigenous Employment Policy
Question 626-20(1): Arctic Security Council
Question 627-20(1): Role of Traditional Knowledge in Environmental Assessment Process
Question 628-20(1): Junction Lights on Highways 4 and 5
Question 629-20(1): Primary Care Reform
Question 630-20(1): Status of Caribou Herd Populations
Question 631-20(1): Northwest Territories Nominee Program
Question 632-20(1): Indigenous Employment Policy
Question 633-20(1): Access to Yellowknife Day and Sobering Shelter
Question 634-20(1): Recruitment and Retention of Physicians
Question 635-20(1): Status of Rockhill Housing
Tabled Document 305-20(1): Towards a Basic Income Guarantee in the Northwest Territories: A Proposal to Invest in People for the Common Good – Summary for Policy Makers
Tabled Document 306-20(1): Draft Proposal for Joint Working Group, Terms of Reference
Statements

Question 635-20(1): Status of Rockhill Housing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, back, I believe in June of last year during oral question 253-20(1), my question, I was asking about the future of Rockhill. And the Minister in her response said that they had an agreement with the NWT Disabilities Council, and that's in Hansard, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to get an update with respect to what's happening with that agreement, and is it moving forward in what form, either with the disabilities council or what is happening with that property? Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Minister responsible for Housing NWT.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in February I shared a highly confidential letter with MLAs that indicated the progress with the Rockhill properties. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Well, Mr. Speaker, there must be some future with respect to what's happening with both. The Minister can speak to that. And it's her letter, so it's not confidential if she speaks about it. It's confidential if I speak to it. So that said, can she enlighten the House as to the direction of this relationship: A, with Rockhill; and, B, with the NWT Disabilities Council; which way or where is it going? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The most important thing we're doing with Rockhill properties is we're working in collaboration. We want NWT Disabilities Council to succeed, but we also want Housing NWT to succeed. We have a prime piece of property in downtown Yellowknife. We have potential projects on the go, and we want this to succeed. But we have to work in collaboration; we have to work together. Success is really important, especially with Yellowknife. I mean, we have many families on the waitlist that are looking for Yellowknife housing. So it's important we work in collaboration, and that's what we're doing, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Minister responsible for Housing NWT. Final supplementary. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm trying to find out has any new agreement or objective, even a handshake deal, been done between any of these situations that can be clarified in the House? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Nothing to share at this moment. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Minister responsible for Housing NWT.