Prime Minister announces $20.8M for 50-unit housing complex in Yellowknife

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was in Yellowknife Thursday to announce a new housing project in the city.

A 50-unit affordable housing complex will be built downtown, with residents expected to move in in 2025.

The prime minister acknowledged the North hasunique challenges when it comes to building new housing, including higher costs, difficulties getting materials and fewer tradespeople.

The funding comes from the federal government's rapid housing initiative. The City of Yellowknife provided the land a contribution of $825,000 and the territorial government will provide operating subsidies.

N.W.T.'s Housing Minister Paulie Chinnasaid the building would be a mix of bachelor units and two-bedroom apartments.

She said the office of the local housing authority and Housing NWT'sNorth Slave officewould move into the first floor of the building.

Yellowknife Mayor Rebecca Alty said this was thecity's third project approved under the rapid housing initiative, alongside the YWCA and Aspen apartments.

She said 107 unitshave been added to the city's housing stock in the past three years.

"It's so needed in our city and in our territory," she said.

Israel has right to defend itself, says Trudeau

Prior to making the housing announcement, Trudeau addressed the war between Hamas and Israel.

The prime minister said Canada supports Israel's right to defend itself in line with international law and condemned the Hamas attacklast week.

Since the attack, thousands have been killed, including three Canadians.

Trudeau said the federal government is working to get other Canadians out of the region, adding that one military plane left Tel Aviv with more than 100 passengers earlier this morning and landed safely in Athens. A second plane was scheduled to do the same later today.

He said Canada would provide $10 million in humanitarian aid for people in Israel and Gaza.

Visit to South Slave

On Wednesday, Trudeau visited the N.W.T. communities of Hay River, Kt'odeecheFirst Nation (KFN) and Enterprise,which were all hard hit by wildfires this summer. Nearly all the structures in Enterprise burned down, while Hay River and KFN were forced to evacuate twice because of wildfires and experienced damage as well.

Trudeau said the federal government would continue to partner with the territory to improve infrastructure in the territory to withstand more extreme weather events due to climate change.