Yellowknife, October 28, 2025—A report released today by the Office of the Auditor General of Canada finds that Housing Northwest Territories (HNWT) did not provide residents most in need with equitable access to housing and housing supports, and it did not effectively manage the condition of the territory’s public housing inventory.
HNWT developed a point-rating system for public housing allocation based on criteria such as affordability and applicants’ time on a waitlist. However, HNWT’s monitoring of how independent local housing organizations allocate public housing units was limited. Therefore, HNWT did not know whether units were allocated equitably, giving priority to those most in need.
Understanding the condition of public housing units and performing regular maintenance reduce costs and help to ensure the safety of residents. The audit found that HNWT did not follow its own requirements to monitor the condition and maintenance of its public housing units. During the audit period, HNWT verified unit condition ratings for only half of the local housing organizations and maintenance was monitored in an ad hoc and limited way.
HNWT, through its homeownership programs, provides funds to help territory residents buy or rent homes and make important repairs. The audit found, however, that HNWT did not consistently apply key eligibility criteria for equitable access to the homeownership programs, and it did not monitor the programs’ outcomes. As a result, it did not ensure that funds for these programs were allocated to meet the objectives of equitable access to homeownership supports for Northwest Territories residents.
“Many of the issues raised in this audit are not new. They were identified in our previous audits, in 2008 and 2012, and remain unresolved,” said Paule‑Anny Pierre, Senior Assistant Auditor General, presenting the report on behalf of the Auditor General of Canada. “Housing is about more than shelter—it’s the foundation for health, economic stability, and quality of life. The Government of the Northwest Territories must act to deliver equitable access to housing and housing supports for residents of the territory.”
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The 2025 Report of the Auditor General of Canada, Housing in the Northwest Territories, is available on the Office of the Auditor General of Canada website.
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