Michael Nadli

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just recently, this government has entered into a memorandum of understanding with various regional groups. It’s part of the devolution process. On that similar basis, does the department identify a need perhaps to forge a closer working relationship with Aboriginal or regional organizations that have the capacity in terms of a tribal alliance, to maybe forge a strong working relationship to ensure that, you know, there is a system in place so that this reporting requirement, not only to the territorial government but, also, at the same time, is to the federal government...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I’d like to commend the department, first of all, for being at least there for communities in terms of ensuring that the funding is made available for programs and services that they might be delivered. In most cases, what exists out there is that you have a band council and then you have a settlement council or a hamlet council. You have, more likely, two institutions running the communities. I’m just trying to understand the nature of some of the funding that flows from, say, MACA, to local governments. Is it in the forms of applicationbased funding programs or these...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It is concerning that there’s a reduction from $400,000 to $185,000. What is the longterm vision that the department has in terms of providing the services to local governments? At the same time, what are some immediate priorities to make those funds are publicly known and ensure that communities can access them? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just was kind of curious about this program initiative, too. Assuming that we live on the highway, plus at the same time of course there are needed resources at the local level. If not the success of this program being application-based and making it available for community governments to access at least some supplementary funds to at least keep their operations going in terms of providing ground ambulances, especially for communities along the highway. If the application base is not working, not succeeding, is the department considering perhaps a program initiative...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I’d like to thank the Minister for his reply. To try and add more context to the point that I’m making is that, you know, perhaps there’s an identified need to try to bring MACA together in its regional operations with, say, the tribal council in terms of ensuring that communities are not only at the receiving end of large amounts of funding but ensuring that, you know, there’s a fluid reporting system in place, and that the local communities do have the capacity in terms of the financial management and meeting their financial reporting obligations on a timely basis so...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, it’s good in terms of working with communities and trying to build that strong relationship, at least at the local level. I think it’s been made referenced that the School of Community Government and the local municipalities associations have a hand in terms of working with MACA down the road, of ensuring that communities are in a position to meet reporting requirements in terms of further their training and capacities so that there’s sound financial management plan in terms of ensuring that, at the local level, these funds are administered properly, at the same time...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. No further questions.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. This has been an ongoing initiative for some time. I understood that there was some interdepartment cooperation involving another department that’s culminated in this program initiative and its application base. Surely we’ve identified the challenges, namely the capacity issue and the need for training, at the same time, liability issues. What is the department doing to at least mitigate those challenges, to ensure that the ground ambulances are made available, at least the resources, at the local level? Thank you.

Thank you. I understand that with community residents RCMP local detachments are developing community policing plans. I just wanted to understand whether that will continue, especially in regard to smaller communities such as Kakisa that efforts have been made to ensure that their input will be sought and that at least their involvement -- at least lay the foundation of community policing plans. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Are we looking for partnership opportunities with the universities and other northern jurisdictions to advance local food production in the NWT? Mahsi.