Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Auditor General of Canada released its report on the performance audit of Northwest Territories Housing. The auditor general's findings outline several areas where Housing NWT must improve how we provide residents most in need with equitable access to housing and supports through the public housing and homeownership programs.
Housing NWT accepts all recommendations outlined in the report. This is not just another audit, Mr. Speaker, this is a call to action. I acknowledge that action is required to address deficiencies identified in the report and am committed to delivering real change for residents across the Northwest Territories. Everyone deserves a place to call home.
The audit made recommendations related to the monitoring of local housing organizations on the allocation of public housing units and maintenance activities. The other areas covered by the audit included guidance and documentation of homeownership program eligibility and the need to evaluate Housing NWT's homeownership programs.
Mr. Speaker, Housing NWT began making changes to its program delivery through a renewal strategy in 2021. Of the 42 actions outlined in the strategy, 31 have been completed to date. Completed actions include revamping program delivery to be more client focused, removing barriers to housing and housing supports and developing an asset management policy framework to strengthen our public housing maintenance processes.
We are working on making principled changes to how we provide services Mr. Speaker; however, Housing NWT and I recognize that there is a lot more work to be done. The auditor general found that Housing NWT needs to better monitor public housing unit allocation and provide clearer guidance for local housing organizations. We have committed to address this by reviewing and updating our policies and procedures, building better systems to track maintenance, and training staff to apply these tools consistently across the territory.
In response to the recommendations, Mr. Speaker, we have also committed to conduct an external review of the governance and structure of our local housing organizations, including a jurisdictional scan of best practices. We will then engage with local housing organizations' boards of directors and staff to explore options for change.
The auditor general also identified a gap in monitoring of homeownership programs. Work has begun to address this gap by building capacity through the creation of a program evaluation analyst position. In response to the auditor general's recommendations, we also committed to conduct a full program evaluation of the emergency repair program by October 2027 and an additional evaluation design for homeownership repair. This work will build on the evaluation designs currently being developed for Housing NWT's market housing and public housing maintenance programs.
Mr. Speaker, the auditor general called for a better understanding of housing needs in the Northwest Territories. We have engaged with residents through the territorial housing needs assessment to better identify what housing supports are needed and where. This work, combined with Housing NWT's capital planning, resulted in the plans to construct 152 public housing units over the life of this Legislative Assembly, representing a significant $120 million investment. Over this same period, a further $30 million is being invested to support the delivery of over 500 public housing unit repairs to preserve our critical housing infrastructure across the territory. These investments demonstrate the efforts of this Legislative Assembly and Housing NWT to address our most critical housing needs.
Mr. Speaker, the auditor general also identified that Housing NWT needs stronger monitoring of the condition and maintenance of public housing. In response, Housing NWT will strengthen oversight through a modernized community housing services agreement with local housing organizations that formally documents our current maintenance reporting activities and sets clear performance measures. We will complete unit condition verifications for all local housing organizations, pilot third party condition assessments, and introduce the use of digital devices to improve accountability and timely maintenance.
When I visit communities, I see families doing their best in the homes that need major repairs. This is what drives me to push harder for solutions. We are making progress through repairs and unit replacements, but I acknowledge there is still much more work to be done to address our housing needs. In collaboration with Indigenous leaders from across the Northwest Territories, I am continuing to advocate for funding from the federal government to address our capital, operating, and maintenance needs.
This is not just an issue in the Northwest Territories. Recent audits across the North have highlighted similar challenges in limited resources and aging infrastructure. The message is clear: Northern housing requires federal support. I urge the federal government to step up as a partner to ensure all Northerners have access to safe, healthy homes.
Mr. Speaker, housing is more than a roof over our head; it is foundational to health, education, and economic opportunity. That is what guides me, and that is what will guide our work moving forward. With that perspective, Housing NWT is transitioning from the term "public" to "social" housing to better reflect the people-first nature of our services. This change is part of a broader shift in how Housing NWT thinks about the services we provide, not just as buildings or units, but as a service that supports our residents' well-being.
Mr. Speaker, I want to close by thanking the staff at Housing NWT and our local housing organizations. The changes we are making will continue to take time and teamwork, and I know our staff will be able and ready. Quyananni, Mr. Speaker.
