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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The Northwest Territories Housing Corporation has failed Tu Nedhe constituents when it comes to housing programs, said MLA Tom Beaulieu during Wednesday's legislative assembly.

"The NWT Housing Corporation is trying to make people eligible for programs as opposed to making program that fit the people," said Beaulieu, a former president of the Housing Corp.

"The NWT Housing Corporation must understand the difference between the communities with a market that is as strong as anywhere else in Canada and communities with a few hundred people, low incomes and no market in sight." A needs survey has not been completed since 2003, he added.

He asked Robert McLeod, minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, if there was a willingness to revitalize programs to make them friendlier to smaller, non-market communities.

"The member has indicated in his statement that one size certainly doesn't fit all and we agree," he responded.

However, "I believe, and I think most communities would believe, that our programs are geared toward all the population of the Northwest Territories," he added. "We certainly believe our current system is fair."

Youth justice system questioned

Nahendeh MLA Kevin Menicoche expressed concerns about "fair justice" Wednesday.

"We all know, unfortunately, that some of our young people get in trouble with the law," he said. "I believe that sentencing of our youth has to be clear and ensure that they do fully understand the consequences of not following out a conditional sentence."

A person must fully understand his or her sentence, he stressed.

"There have been cases where youth thought they were released and did not know the consequences of breaching their conditions and as a result now suffer a continued or even harsher sentence." He added youth need more support for rehabilitation.

"Without adequate probation services and rehabilitation support, we fail these young persons, and they will end up back in the correction system instead of leading a meaningful life in their communities."

MLA demands equality for youth

The youth of Nunakput are facing the hardest challenges in the entire territory, if not the entire country, said MLA Jackie Jacobson on Wednesday.

"There are many students in Nunakput who have never played an official sporting game, such as basketball, hockey or have participated in the Super Soccer tournament here in Yellowknife. This is unacceptable," he said.

If a group travels from any of his communities for a sporting event the cost of a return flight would be about $6,000, he said.

He challenged the government to follow through on promises made and priorities established to youth in his community.

"Years ago an elder told me taking care of our youth was like building or taking care of your hunting equipment. Without this, things continue to deteriorate quickly to a point where survival is impossible," he said