Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, transfer Housing Northwest Territories market rental units to tenants.
WHEREAS Housing Northwest Territories operates a portfolio of market rental units across the territory;
AND WHEREAS many of these units are currently occupied by tenants who have demonstrated stable residency, consistent payment history, and strong community ties;
AND WHEREAS enabling current tenants to assume ownership of the units they occupy can support housing stability, increase homeownership rates, and reduce long-term operational and maintenance costs for Housing Northwest Territories;
AND WHEREAS transitioning units to tenant ownership, where appropriate, aligns with broader goals of promoting self-sufficiency, community empowerment, and sustainable housing models;
AND WHEREAS a structured and transparent transfer framework, including fair market valuation, optional financing support, and eligibility criteria, would help ensure an equitable and orderly transition process;
NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the Member for Mackenzie Delta, that this Legislative Assembly calls upon the Government of the Northwest Territories to conduct a detailed assessment of its market rental inventory to determine which units are suitable for transfer, taking into account building condition, community needs, and long-term housing strategy impacts;
AND FURTHER, that the Government of the Northwest Territories develop and implement a program allowing for the transfer or sale of selected market rental units to the current tenants occupying them, subject to clear eligibility criteria including, but not limited to, tenancy duration, payment history, and demonstrated capacity for property ownership;
AND FURTHERMORE, that the Government of the Northwest Territories be encouraged to support this initiative by reviewing any legislative, regulatory, or policy adjustments necessary to facilitate the orderly transfer of market rental units to current tenants.
AND FURTHERMORE, that the Government of the Northwest Territories respond to this motion in 120 days.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Monfwi. Member from Mackenzie Delta.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to thank the Member from Monfwi for asking me to second this motion. It's very important that we give back some transfer back to the community to be more self-sufficient. The Indigenous governments, the local governments, are -- I feel are ready to take on this responsibility, most of the territories under modern treaties, so we can take more of these roles on. And it's starting the process with this government to start a detailed assessment within each of the communities on what units -- market housing units are -- could and should be moved into the possession of their occupants. Starting a relationship, a continuous relationship, between the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Indigenous governments to be more self-sufficient, give them more responsibility in services that they can deliver to their communities. It's an area where we can work together to combat the crisis of housing that exists throughout Canada. You know, it's giving back to -- we have to give back to the communities. I can recall prior to when government came to our communities, we were self-sufficient, we were strong. I always mentioned that. And it's time to give this strength and independence back to our communities. And starting the process of the assessment process is one area we can work on. And for that reason, I will be supporting this motion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Mackenzie Delta. To the motion. Member from Monfwi.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in this Assembly we often speak about promoting self-sufficiency, strengthening our communities, and expanding opportunities for homeownership across the Northwest Territories. This motion presents a practical way to advance those goals. Across our territory, Housing NWT manages a portfolio of market rental units. Many of these homes are occupied by tenants who have demonstrated long-term stability and responsibility. They have built their lives in these units and contribute meaningfully to their communities. Where tenants have demonstrated that stability and the capacity to assume ownership, we should create a pathway for them to take that next step. Homeownership builds equity, strengthens long-term housing security, and encourages people to invest in their homes and in the communities where they live.
Mr. Speaker, this motion calls on the government to undertake a strategic assessment of its market rental portfolio to determine which units may be suitable for transfer to current tenants. It further directs the development and implementation of a structured program that would allow selected units to be transferred or sold to the tenants who occupy them. This work should include a careful review of the portfolio supported by clear eligibility criteria, fair market valuation, and consideration of long-term housing strategy impacts. The goal is to establish a transparent framework to guide how such transfer could take place.
Mr. Speaker, transitioning appropriate units to tenant ownership could also help reduce ongoing operational and maintenance pressure on Housing NWT, allowing public resources to be focused where they are most needed. Ultimately, this motion is about creating opportunity. It is about recognizing responsible tenants and supporting them in building lasting security for themselves and their families. I urge all Members to support this motion. Masi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Monfwi. To the motion. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Yeah, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise to give support to this motion as well. Earlier, I had mentioned that Housing NWT has an agreement with CMHC that ends in 2038, and -- and they got to look at new ways to -- how they're going to liquidate assets they have, and that includes market rental units. My only concern is that when they sell these units back to the people that want to buy it, it needs to be assessed fairly, not based on the market rates here in Yellowknife because in small communities, the market rates are totally different. So it needs to be assessed fairly. And so because of that, I agree with this motion, and I support it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. To the motion. Member from Thebacha.
Mr. Speaker, as this motion makes a recommendation to government, Cabinet will be abstaining from the vote. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Thebacha. To the motion. Member from Range Lake.
Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think these kind of motions around housing are very important. We just are -- we've seen an auditor general report about the conditions of housing programs, especially homeownership programs, and the issue of transferring units -- or community transfers of homeownership is a problem. And it's one that the housing corporation -- sorry, NWT Housing is working on, which is good and, you know, they've made commitments to time-bound measurable things. But in the meantime, we need to do things differently, and this motion specifically speaks to that issue of transfer. And I think building a regime where you have, you know, people living in a market rental or public housing and reaching the point where, you know, the asset has reached its value, a person's been living in there, they're a good tenant, let them become a homeowner, empower them to build a home for themselves and their families, and to grow in a community, especially communities that are not market communities where this could go a long way to providing equity, because that's the reason you want to buy a home is -- for many people, it's not just to have a roof over your head, but it's the equity to use to build your future. It's a seed that plants and grows. And that's important that we provide that opportunity, even in communities that don't have the kind of economies that I think people in my community of Yellowknife often take for granted and certainly people in Toronto definitely take for granted.
Mr. Speaker, I do appreciate, again, that this motion's come forward. You know, this is the last of our motion marathon today, and as you have previously allowed speakers to opine on the utility of motions, I just want to say I really appreciated the debate today that seemed to find, you know, unanimous -- a unanimous consent that these motions are good, that the responses we're going to get from government are going to be meaningful, and that the ideas of establishing contingency funds are sound. That was not the case yesterday, but apparently a good night's sleep can change your position on motions. So I really appreciate that everyone's come together on this and we are a united front speaking to the issues that matter most to working people and small communities in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Range Lake. To the motion. Member from the Sahtu.
Oh, I am just getting up as well. Mr. Speaker, I will be supporting this motion here. And having experienced my second term, this department is a very under -- in a lot of cases, underprivileged by the monetary funds to meet the demand, so I can see the challenges. The cost per square footage is going up extremely, and global interruptions, inflationary prices, lack of labour, put that in all one basket, and you've got a basket for disaster; however, we still must move on with the redesigning of our current resources we have and try our best to convince our federal counterparts that we need more, these are all combined efforts, and I think if we all stand -- this government stands behind this motion and we also stand behind access to Canada homes program. So in short, I will support this motion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from the Sahtu. To the motion. Member from Yellowknife Centre.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will support the motion. I am not suggesting by any ways that this should be a liquidation sale. But, I mean, some of these assets, to be frank, Mr. Speaker -- and you know this because you have communities that have challenges as well, you know, whether it's all the way up to Tsiigehtchic or Lutselk'e, the fact that some of these public housing units are troublesome and problematic and people want them, and if we need to get rid of them and they still want them, we should get them off the books. But I would also say, to be truthful, is be careful what you wish for too and -- because for those folks -- now this sounds counterintuitive to the motion. But keep this in mind, that if you now take control of the House, you're taking control of the House. And like my colleague from Range Lake, I think he was spot on, people want equity, they want confidence that they can make changes in their own houses, you know. I mean, in theory, public housing, you can't change the colour without permission, you know. Like, you can't change the siding and all of that. Like, there's a process. But when you have ownership -- and that's something I've seen quite a bit, is that when you have ownership of something like this -- so whether you're in Fort Providence or you're certainly in McPherson, you have different types of pride when you start taking care of your House or worry about your House. And I think it speaks to the health of the community that when you feel that it is your House, that you own your House, I think it'll inspire a lot of people to do some really good. So at the end of the day, if we've got to get this housing Minister on an auction block out there auctioning off the houses, you know, if that's what it takes, that's what it takes. And I think that anybody who wants to own their house, we must find a path for them to do that. And if it costs a little money, well, you know what? Let's give them a chance and an opportunity that in most cases they can't. I mean, I think, again, as my colleague from Range Lake pointed out the differences between a Yellowknife solution and a Toronto solution, I mean, you can't go to a typical bank and just go to say, I want a mortgage in Wrigley, or I want a mortgage in Lutselk'e or -- you know, it's such a challenging endeavour. So how do you get a house there? How do you get your House there? You have to have deep pockets. And even that comes with a risk.
So, Mr. Speaker, in short, I am supporting this motion. I appreciate the intent it's offered. And I often say that, you know, hey, if we can make people's lives easier, this is definitely one, and if we can inspire ownership, I think that's a good thing too. Thank you very much.
Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. To the motion. Member from Dehcho.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too will be supporting the motion. I spoke to the Member that brought the motion forward and talked about homeownership and how important it is and how when you own your own home, like my colleague said, that you have a sense of pride, a sense of pride of taking care of your own home. You feel independent. You're independent from a system that keeps you stuck in a system. So you become a homeowner, you become -- you have pride. You can do what you need to do. And you can fix up your House and do whatever you want to do.
And just to know that you have a home for your family, a roof over your head that you can call home, this is very -- it's very near and dear to me and a lot of people that I know that are living in market rental units that want to own the homes. So I was thinking, you know, get those houses off the books to make room for new stock.
So for that reason, I am going to -- that reason and all the reasons that my colleagues are talking about, I am going to be supporting the motion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from the Dehcho. To the motion.
Question.
Question has been called. Member from Monfwi, do you wish to conclude debate?
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to say thank you to everybody here, those who spoke and those who did not, you know, speak in favour of the motion but still I know deep down in their heart that they do feel the same way as we do. You know, at the moment, public housing units -- Housing NWT are transferring public housing units to tenants who have lived in those units for many years, where they raised their family and for over 20 years. But it's not the same for market rental unit, so that's why I am pushing for the market rental units to be treated the same as a public housing unit. I have some tenants in my region where family of, you know, over six living in a market rental, they have no choice. There's no market. There's no places where they can go to buy and sell a house. So market rental unit is the only place that they can go that they are eligible for.
And some of these people, they've lived in it for over five years, and they paid over $100,000. Even now the market rental unit rates have increased to $1,950, so that's $23,300 for one year. And I have another family in my region, in Behchoko, that lived in the unit for over 20 years, and they paid over $200,000. So they're asking for these units to be transferred to them. It's not just them. It's in other communities as well, you know. And some of these units are old, and yet they are still -- they're market rental. I even have an elder that is living in a market rental unit in Behchoko. It's a run-down trailer, and she's paying over $1,500 a month. I mean -- because there's no housing. There's no place for her to go, and -- or there's no social housing for her to accommodate her. So she is paying -- living on, you know, an income, and paying over $1,500 is unacceptable. So that's why I am urging and hoping that -- I want the Minister of -- Housing NWT Minister to look into this policy, maybe change the policy, and make it -- like, treat it the same as a public housing unit transfer as a homeowner. Thank you. And I would ask for recorded vote.
