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Mr. Speaker, on November 24th I rose before this House to announce a strategy for renewal of the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. A strategy that is focused on taking action to address the housing crisis in the Northwest Territories.  I am very pleased to rise again today to announce that, guided by the strategy, we are continuing to take action and set the stage for real, positive change.

Mr. Speaker, in a motion on March 4, 2021, this Legislative Assembly told the Government of the Northwest Territories to update the NWT Housing Corporation’s Mission Statement to ensure it reflects the corporation’s role in social wellness. I have heard the Members and
I acknowledge and share their desire for change.  That is why one of the first actions in the strategy is to review and update the corporation’s Mission Statement.

During the Fall, we collected input on the motion from this Legislative Assembly, from the large volume of existing reports and direction including the NWT Ombud, and from the corporation’s own staff.  We also asked the Council of Leaders Housing Working Group for input on the future direction of the corporation.

This input has resulted in a modernized mandate for the NWT Housing Corporation, composed of a new statement of Mission, Values, and a Vision.

Mr. Speaker, the corporation’s new Mission focuses on the wellbeing of individuals, on fairness, and on providing support to those most in need. It recognizes that the Housing Corporation is about more than building houses; we are part of an integrated support system composed of other government departments and partners.  At the same time, limited resources mean we need to focus that support on those who need it most.

The new mandate also describes six values to guide the corporation.  They are:

• Client focus
• Accountability
• Reconciliation
• Collaboration
• Innovation, and
• Sustainability

Mr. Speaker, these values reflect a more modern and client-focused approach to the work of the Corporation.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, the mandate includes a Vision statement, which until now, was missing from the Housing Corporation’s mandate.  The Vision recognizes that meeting the territory’s housing needs is bigger than any single government or organization. It is critical that we work in partnership with Indigenous governments, the Government of Canada, community governments and other stakeholders to reach our housing goals.

Mr. Speaker, I realize that some people might say that a new Mission, Values and Vision for the Corporation is just a piece of paper. People may ask, “What real impact will this mandate have on the ground for residents and communities across the NWT?”

Our new mandate will serve as the measure of everything that the corporation does. It will serve as the lens through which we undertake the review of the Housing Corporation’s policies and programs in the next steps of the renewal.  It will also guide the corporation’s relationships with the public, with its clients and with its partners as it strives to address the housing gap in the NWT.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to read the Corporation’s new Mission Statement into the record, because I am very proud of the new direction it sets.  The NWT Housing Corporation’s new Mission is to:

Increase the well-being of individuals and communities by providing fair access to quality housing support for people most in need.

I give my firm commitment to this Legislative Assembly that as Minister Responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, my direction to the corporation will be consistent with our Mission, Values and Vision, which I will be tabling later today.

Mr. Speaker, I am excited about this new mandate and where the next steps in the renewal process will take us. I look forward to rising again in the House soon and providing Members with another update on the actions we are taking under our renewal strategy, helping the GNWT meet its mandate commitment to increase the number of affordable homes and reduce core housing need in the territory. 

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.