Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last month I had the chance to meet with the Minister of housing and -- housing Minister to discuss the Dene Nation establishing an office to coordinate an Indigenous-led submission to Build Canada Homes. During that meeting, the Minister raised her concerns about the Dene Nation. My question is to the Minister, why is the Minister did not meet with the Dene national chief to discuss the Build Canada Homes program with the Dene Nation? Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Minister responsible for Housing NWT.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since I am not the federal government, I am not the one handing out the Build Canada Homes funding. But, absolutely, when we had a meeting with MLA Edjericon about Build Canada Homes, I encouraged the MLA to provide a proposal, work with the Akaitcho chiefs and provide a proposal at the regional level for Build Canada Homes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Why will the Minister not work with the Dene Nation instead of describe it as merely a political body without rights when it represents thousands of Indigenous people who do have rights? And by representing so many communities, they are uniquely suited to advocate according to the federal government as a collective. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as a Minister of this government, I am responsible to work with rights-based organizations in this territory. And I've never said that I am not willing to work with Dene Nation to have these conversations, but I encourage the Member to work with the Akaitcho chiefs to provide a Build Canada Homes proposal with the Akaitcho chiefs. And if he's interested, we could provide that support. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister responsible for Housing NWT. Final supplementary. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Build Canada Homes presents a real opportunity to begin building Indigenous housing capacity now. Why is the Minister choosing to delay that work, especially when Housing NWT federal funding is set to end next decade, and pursuant to the UNDRIP Implementation Act, the transfer of housing capacity and decision-making to Indigenous governments is already behind schedule? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think the work around housing and our territorial housing needs assessment shows the -- is a big indicator of the work we have to do over the next number of years. And I think that me as a Minister and with this Cabinet, we are pushing forward and there's a lot of support around housing and a lot of support around small, remote communities. As an MLA for Nunakput,it's really important that we deliver, especially in homes in our communities. And I see it every day. I see it when I go home. And that's the life I live, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister responsible for NWT Housing. Oral questions. Member from the Dehcho.
