Lucy Kuptana: Repairs to Social Housing Units

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Mr. Speaker, Members of this Legislative Assembly have spoken about the importance of repairing our existing social housing units. I want to assure Members and all Northerners, that real, measurable progress is happening. Today I will highlight the work Housing NWT and Local Housing Organizations have done over the past year in repairing and improving social housing units across the NWT.

Since the start of this fiscal year, 278 social housing units across the territory have received much-needed repairs through collaboration between Housing NWT, Local Housing Organizations and contractors. These repairs were supported with the GNWT’s three-year $150 million funding commitment to replace and upgrade social housing units across the North. Units received repairs to structures, electrical systems, heating systems, plumbing and drainage systems and freeze protection systems.

Regular repair work, including repairs to freeze protection systems, helps protect buildings from severe weather and ensures residents have safe and reliable homes all through the winter. This protection is crucial in the NWT, where extreme cold, high winds and long winters place immense pressure on buildings. Not only does repair work and proper maintenance help extend the lifespan of our units, it also contributes to our tenants’ overall safety and wellbeing.

A maintained home offers more than shelter; it provides a sense of security and peace of mind. Over the years, I have seen firsthand how access to a safe and healthy living space can transform lives. Individuals and families can focus on work and school, and Elders can remain comfortably in their communities. A reliable, well‑maintained home provides the stability people need to focus on their health and responsibilities.

Mr. Speaker, a total of 94 units were repaired in the Beaufort Delta this year, including upgrades to Kiglavik House for Seniors in Tuktoyaktuk. Eight units were repaired in the Nahendeh, where our teams completed a full renovation following long-term occupancy of a social housing unit in Fort Simpson. In the North Slave, 25 units were repaired, including siding replacements at Bigelow Crescent in Yellowknife and exterior renovations at a fourplex in Whatì. 49 units were repaired in the Sahtu, including complete renovation of four units in Norman Wells. 102 units were repaired in the South Slave, including boiler replacements at Whispering Willows and Riverview Lodge in Hay River.

In addition to these repair projects, Housing NWT also allocated $14.7 million this past fiscal year to support LHOs’ maintenance activities across the NWT. To help accelerate repairs, in 2026 Housing NWT will pilot a trades team initiative, with regional trade professionals hired into the Beaufort Delta, Sahtu and Nahendeh districts to support Local Housing Organizations in repairs and maintenance and improve the quality of our housing assets for residents.

The GNWT’s investments reduced the number of social housing units sitting empty due to repair needs, helping more families and individuals access safe housing sooner. This work also created steady employment opportunities and gained experience for apprentices, tradespeople and local businesses.

With the support of over 40 journey-certified staff working with our Local Housing Organizations, our Apprenticeship Program continues to provide up to 15 apprenticeship learning opportunities each year. I strongly encourage residents interested in trades to explore this program. It offers a path to becoming a skilled housing maintainer, plumber, carpenter or oil heat systems technician, right in your home community, while helping create safer and more sustainable homes for Northerners.

Housing NWT has been taking steps to better ensure maintenance activities are documented, reported and acted on consistently and effectively. A capacity gap assessment for maintenance activities performed by LHOs was recently completed and a modernized maintenance management system has been implemented, with new training and online reporting tools available. Housing NWT is also partnering with the Department of Infrastructure to pilot a new condition assessment approach, to rate and track conditions of our units in three different communities. Lastly, we are finalizing the evaluation framework for the Social Housing Maintenance Programs.

At Housing NWT, we remain committed to making full and effective use of the resources available to us, and ensuring that as many units as possible are repaired and restored for families and individuals in need. I want to thank the Local Housing Organizations, contractors and trades teams who make this work possible. Their efforts create safe homes for the people who live in them. I look forward to seeing many more homes repaired by the end of this Legislative Assembly.

Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker.