Bob McLeod

I’m not sure when the Member checked the website, but I checked it today and it looked like it was updated. But for the Member’s information, for 2013-14 there were 16 applications and 11 organizations were granted funding. For this upcoming year we have guaranteed that we will have our request for applications before the end of May and that we will have the money out before the end of July. Thank you.

Thank you. The Government of the Northwest Territories does not prescribe NGO mandates or activities. What we do is we assist them. So with the NGO Stabilization Fund, for example, we provide short-term support to NGOs for governance, management, organizational development and extraordinary operations so that they can continue to provide the essential services.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife Kam Lake, that Bill 3, Surface Rights Board Act, be read for the third time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am very pleased to recognize my wife of 40 years and my lifelong partner, and also another constituent of Yellowknife South, Carmelita Allen. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, that Bill 1, Reindeer Act, be read for the third time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I seem to recall when we were doing this work, there was a call to keep it separate. If other Members of committee want us to put them together, I’m sure they will come out when we do a review. If that comes out of that review, then we’ll do that. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. To my right I have Kelly McLaughlin, director of legislation with the Department of Justice; to my left I have Jamie Fulford, legal counsel with the Department of Justice. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak to Bill 10, Northwest Territories Lands Act. The passage of this legislation is an important step towards implementing the Northwest Territories Lands and Resources Devolution Agreement.

The Northwest Territories Lands Act is a mirror of the federal Territorial Lands Act, which Canada will make inapplicable on Territorial lands on April 1, 2014.

Under the Devolution Agreement, the GNWT is committed to “substantially mirror” Canada’s legislation that is repealed or made inapplicable to public lands transferring to the GNWT through devolution.

The mirroring...

I guess we can start by the Member providing me the information about who he’s talking about and what he’s talking about so that we can follow up.

As I said, we have three categories. The first category, the one that provides the most critical services, we go as far as providing multi-year contributions. Depending on the category, if the NGO you’re referencing is in the third category, then we probably would not even follow up as to where they were getting their funding. But if they were in the first or second category, we would make sure they did what they’re supposed to do. Thank you, Mr...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I indicated in response to a previous question, the Government of the Northwest Territories does not prescribe NGO mandates or activities and it’s up to the NGOs themselves to regulate themselves. If they’re raising funds on the premise that they’re going to be distributing the funds, then I expect they would do that.

The only legal requirement, as far as I know, is the requirement to register with the registrar. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.