As the topic of housing continues to arise in the legislative assembly, Housing Minister Patter Netser made another appeal to land-claims organization Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated on Friday.
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photo courtesy Legislative Assembly
“We have this Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, which belongs to the beneficiaries. Our people are in severe need, the beneficiaries, of whom we are responsible for. I would like to call out to NTI: help us. We need your help,” Netser said in response to questions from Iqaluit-Manirajak MLA Adam Arreak-Lightstone.
Netser, who made a similar plea to NTI during the summer sitting of the legislative assembly, added that the Inuit organization has a “healthy surplus.”
NTI’s trust fund is approaching $2 billion in value.
Netser’s overture to the land claims organization drew a round of applause from some MLAs Friday and Arreak-Lightstone gave him credit as well.
“I applaud the minister for calling out to NTI to seek assistance in this matter, as I do believe that is an appropriate manner of addressing the housing shortage in the territory,” he said.
Arreak-Lightstone also advocated a pilot program in Iqaluit whereby the Nunavut Housing Corporation tests alternative construction methods, including pre-fabricated units similar to the method that the Qikiqtaaluk Corporation is using to build a new hotel in the territorial capital.
Netser replied that he’s “open to ideas” and “certainly I would look at other options.”