Check against delivery

Mr. Speaker, I am committed to building more homes for Northerners.

We are turning this commitment into action through a multi-year plan with funding from the GNWT, the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, and Housing NWT. Each year for the rest of this Legislative Assembly, Housing NWT will invest $50 million annually, including $41.6 million per year from the GNWT, to build new homes and repair existing ones.

This is a result of strong collaboration among Members of this House and reflects a key strength of this government, which I am proud to be a part of. This collaboration and on-going funding commitment continues to bring us towards improving the suitability, accessibility, and affordability of housing in the NWT.

Since the start of the 20th Legislative Assembly, Housing NWT has completed 81 new housing units. Sixty-seven homes are being built as we speak. We plan to build 152 more over the next two years, reaching 300 newly constructed homes over the life of this Government. These projects rely on strong partnerships with contractors, Local Housing Organizations, and Indigenous governments to plan and build homes that meet the needs of communities.

We are also supporting residents to gain skills and education in the trades, with the added requirement for each new construction contract to include an apprenticeship work assignment.

Mr. Speaker, our strategy focuses on new construction, as well as major renovation projects to existing public housing units. This includes replacing old units and upgrading units to improve conditions and extend their lifespan. We are using data from the Territorial Housing Needs Assessment to adjust our housing portfolio and align planning decisions with the types of housing that Northerners need both now and in the future.

Housing NWT staff are continuously looking for ways to meet and collaborate with Indigenous governments to improve housing outcomes. To date, we have entered into formal agreements with four Indigenous governments, including the Tłı̨chǫ Government, the Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated, the Délı̨nę Got’ı̨nę Government, and the Gwich’in Tribal Council. These agreements help us work together on sustainable shared housing goals.

Construction on the 50-unit mixed-use building in Yellowknife progressed very well this summer. So far, the foundation, utility service tie-ins, and municipal connections are complete. We are exploring innovative ways to continue construction through the winter season. Off-site manufacturing of the Mass Timber and building envelope will continue this winter in southern Canada; these pieces will be ready and delivered to the worksite in the Spring. This future mixed-use building is located on 50th Street and will support vulnerable populations directly with access to safe, stable housing. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the City of Yellowknife for their land contribution, CMHC’s Rapid Housing Initiative for $20.8 million in funding, and PCL Construction and Stantec as design-build partners in this project.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to highlight the modernization of Aspen Apartments. This project demonstrates strategic investment, and an important step forward in improving public housing and reducing reliance on third-party landlords. This upgrade will extend the building’s service life by 25 years and add 36 new owned units to Housing NWT’s portfolio. The project is on track to be completed by mid-November. Once construction is complete, public housing tenants currently renting from third-party landlords will move into the building. This will free up market rental units in Yellowknife, providing more homes for residents in need of market housing. We are switching from oil heat to a cleaner biomass system as part of our energy plan and again to strategically invest in our buildings and reduce costs in the long term.

Work continues across the NWT, with the award of Housing NWT’s most recent design-build contract to ARCAN Construction Ltd. who will work with METCAN Building Solutions, a Northern, Indigenous-owned NWT manufacturer of modular homes. The contract will deliver 84 units to eight communities in the form of duplexes and fourplexes, with construction beginning in spring 2026. Homes will be constructed in Hay River at METCAN Building Solutions’ facility to ensure durability, efficiency, and suitability for northern conditions. I am also pleased to report that earlier this summer, Housing NWT entered into a negotiated contract with the Fort Smith Metis Council to deliver a public housing duplex. Other negotiations are under way with Indigenous governments for an additional 14 units, and I look forward to providing more details as negotiations progress.

We are advancing our Energy Strategy by switching to biomass and electric heating where possible, including Housing NWT’s first-ever electric boiler in Fort Smith. Other exciting energy initiatives include testing cold climate heat pump technology in partnership with Arctic Energy Alliance and designing all new buildings to be at least 20% more energy efficient than the 2015 Model National Energy Code. At the end of the month, a biomass heating system will be online in Fort Providence for the Seniors Multiplex.

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to sharing more updates as we continue making progress and delivering homes for Northerners.

Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker.