Check against delivery.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday I announced the completion and release of the Territorial Housing Needs Assessment. This report examines housing needs across the Northwest Territories, both now and into the future. It provides the foundation for collaborative action, evidence-based planning, and strong advocacy for increased housing investment across the NWT.

A territory-wide assessment has not been completed for over 25 years. While Housing NWT has worked with several communities over the years to develop Housing Needs Assessments through the Community Housing Plans initiative, the NWT has not conducted a territory-wide Housing Needs study since the year 2000. Completing this assessment addresses a significant gap and provides a detailed report for the whole NWT at a single point in time, allowing for coordinated support.

We must obtain federal investments to address the housing crisis in the NWT. This priority is embedded in the mandate that governs this Legislative Assembly. The completion of this Needs Assessment is an essential first step towards unlocking federal support. It includes the data and analysis needed for federal funding requests that will help all NWT communities address housing challenges and work toward achieving viable housing solutions throughout the territory.

Mr. Speaker, the report estimates that the NWT has a current need of between 1,700 and 2,700 homes. We will require an additional 771 to 1,030 new homes by 2044, depending on population growth and projected changes in housing conditions. This does not include the approximately 1,500 units that are either already at the end of their service life or will be by 2044. This is a significant need and highlights the requirement for continued collaboration and investment.

We also know that housing is more than numbers; it is about people's homes. That is why we needed to go beyond the statistical data and hear directly from community leaders and residents about the diverse challenges people face with their homes across the territory.

In the summer of 2025, Housing NWT completed extensive engagement with Indigenous and community governments in 20 communities to better understand their unique housing needs. More than 450 residents from almost every community also shared their views through an online survey. This meaningful engagement with community leaders and community input was central to making this report as complete and accurate as possible.

Mr. Speaker, the GNWT and Housing NWT recognize that the housing crisis cannot be solved alone. The Territorial Housing Needs Assessment is an important step in this collaborative process, and we look forward to continuing to work with Indigenous governments and community governments to ensure housing solutions are reflective of regional and community needs. This report is not the end; it is a basis for more evidence-based housing solutions.

I am encouraged by this progress, and I believe this is an important step toward building stronger communities and improving housing for everyone in the territory.

Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker.