Check against delivery

Mr. Speaker, the lack of adequate housing remains one of the most significant challenges facing the Northwest Territories today. Across our territory, too many residents face barriers to safe, suitable, and affordable housing.

The findings of the Territorial Housing Needs Assessment confirm what we are hearing in our communities: that Elders, seniors, singles, and vulnerable residents are disproportionately affected by core housing need and are at increased risk of homelessness.

These challenges are compounded by aging housing stock, where many units are approaching or exceeding their intended service life, and by the unique realities of building and maintaining housing in the North. Simply put, Mr. Speaker, the need is urgent, and the scale of the challenge requires sustained, coordinated action.

Mr. Speaker, this government is taking that action.

Through a strategic, multi-year investment of $150 million dollars, this government is transforming how housing is delivered across the Northwest Territories. This investment is focused not only on building new homes, but on protecting and modernizing our existing housing supply so it continues to serve Northerners for years to come.

Over the life of this Legislative Assembly, Housing NWT is on track to deliver hundreds of new housing units while also advancing repairs and retrofits to extend the life of hundreds more. In the first two years of this government, 96 new homes have already been completed, with an additional 264 units at various stages of planning, procurement, and construction.

Mr. Speaker, a central part of this work is a territory-wide modular housing program that is now moving from planning and procurement into full production and delivery.

Across nine communities, from Ulukhaktok to Fort Smith, 98 social housing units are being manufactured in the NWT. These homes are designed primarily for single persons, a group that has been identified at high risk of homelessness. These new homes demonstrate immediate action to address a growing need identified through our Housing Needs Assessment and the pressures we see on singles waiting for social housing in communities across the territory.

Eighty-four of these new modular units are being constructed in Hay River by METCAN Building Solutions with an additional ten units for Behchoko to be manufactured at a Tlicho-owned facility. Four will be manufactured at the new K'ahsho Got'ine Trades Centre in Fort Good Hope. Construction is already well underway on the first of these units, expected to be delivered to Fort Simpson later this year. Ten new units for Ulukhaktok are also expected to be shipped North from Hay River this season. These deliveries mark a clear shift from planning to visible, on-the-ground progress.

Mr. Speaker, this modular approach is helping us deliver housing more efficiently and at greater scale, while ensuring homes are built to meet the demands of northern climates. Just as importantly, these homes are being built in the Northwest Territories, supporting local industry, Indigenous partnerships, and jobs in communities across the North.

At the same time, we continue to invest significantly in repair and modernization of our existing housing portfolio. Through this government’s three-year, $150-million-dollar investment, more than $30 million dollars will be used to improve the condition of more than 800 homes, helping to improve safety, energy-efficiency, and overall living conditions for the families who depend on them.

Mr. Speaker, these efforts are about more than numbers. They are about supporting healthy communities, strengthening our economy, and addressing one of the most pressing social challenges we face.

While we know there is more work ahead, we are making meaningful progress. We are turning plans into construction, and construction into more safe places for Northerners to call home. Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker.