Mr. Speaker, increasing the availability of safe, affordable housing and building stronger relationships with community governments and other stakeholders are two of the priorities agreed to by Members of the Legislative Assembly. 

I am pleased to report that the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation is working on both of these priorities by creating new local housing organizations in Fort Liard, Gameti and Whati. Not only will this create jobs in the community and increase economic development, it will also greatly improve service to community members.  Residents, who previously had questions about their NWTHC rental units or homeowners that were interested in repair programs previously had to contact their NWTHC District Office for more information.  These changes mean that residents get the answers that they require immediately.

The investment in new LHOs in these communities will result in the hiring of full-time housing support staff including a housing manager, a maintenance supervisor and a housing maintainer for each community.  In Gameti, the housing office and workshop have been set up and are now open for business.  Planning for housing offices in Whati and Fort Liard is underway. 

In the communities of Colville Lake and Wekweeti, the Housing Corporation and the Department of the Executive will be partnering in an initiative that will have Government Service Officers provide some housing information and administrative support.

Mr. Speaker, the expansion of local housing services in communities and the increased emphasis on a more person-centred approach will make the delivery of services more accessible to community residents across the Northwest Territories. These changes respond to the needs of our people and will build community capacity as local residents will be hired and trained to take on roles in the new LHOs that are being established.  These actions support our government’s priorities of ensuring that we invest wisely in our workforce and that we have a housing system that is safe and affordable.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.