Wendy Bisaro

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is with regret that I have to, again, bring up the subject of how we fund one of our most valuable resources, the non-government partner organizations who deliver GNWT programs and services for us.

There is a need to better fund our NGOs, one that is not acknowledged by this government. In February I suggested to the House that the GNWT should not only provide multi-year funding, but multi-year core funding for our NGO partners. In my mind, multi-year contracts are a no-brainer, but the NGOs I hear from cannot convince the GNWT to enter into multi-year contracts.

Yet...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Thursday, May 19, 2011, I will move the following motion: now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Sahtu, that the Legislative Assembly resolves to formally observe June 12 to 18, 2011, as NWT Elder Abuse Awareness Week.

One of the other things that I spoke about in my statement was the need to provide for increases to funding to our NGO partners that takes care of cost of living increases. Again, one of the NGOs has not had an increase to the… The Seniors’ Society hasn’t had any increase in the funding for the 1-800 line in 16 years. I’d like to know what policy exists to provide for cost of living increases for contributions that we make to our NGO partners for programs.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, my Member’s statement spoke to multi-year funding for NGOs and the need for this government to go in that direction and to enter into multi-year funding agreements with our NGO partners. I mentioned that I had discovered that some organizations are funded for five-year agreements. I’d like to ask the Minister responsible for the Executive why we can do that for some organizations but we can’t do that for our NGO partners. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to acknowledge the recent passing of Matthew (Matt) Benyk. Mr. Benyk lived a very long and full life, most of it in northern Manitoba and northern Alberta. Several years ago he moved to Yellowknife to live with his daughter Pearl, a long-time Northerner and a resident of Northland in Frame Lake.

Condolences go out to Pearl and the rest of her family from the Members of the Assembly. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to recognize all of the recent inductees into the Education Hall of Fame. In particular, my old friend and teaching colleague, Mr. Ed Jeske. I’d also like to recognize Mr. Garry Hubert, who is the executive director of the SideDoor Ministries.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Thursday, May 19, 2011, I will move the following motion: I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that, notwithstanding Rule 4, when this House adjourns on Thursday, May 19, 2011, it shall be adjourned until Wednesday, August 17, 2011;

And further, that any time prior to August 17, 2011, if the Speaker is satisfied, after consultation with the Executive Council and Members of the Legislative Assembly, that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during the adjournment, the Speaker may give notice...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thanks to the Minister. I guess the issue for forced growth is exactly where I’m going, and there is no opportunity for forced growth increases in the contribution agreements that NGOs have to deal with. I’ve totally lost my thought… You stressed me out, Mr. Minister. I’ll go to my other question.

One of the things that’s in the new Program Manager’s Guide is a statement that if the government requires an audit, the government will pay for it. That hasn’t been past practice. I’d like to ask the Minister when that will change. Thank you.

Thanks to the Minister for that response. I guess I would have to wonder why the Minister would say a program is under review when we’ve had the Seniors’ Society required to do a single-year agreement since 1999 for the same program. It seems like it’s not under review for 16 years.

The Program Manager’s Guide for NGOs has been developed and distributed and I’d like to commend the departments of the Executive and Finance for doing that. One of the suggestions in that document, and I think it’s an extremely good one, is to have one program manager for each NGO that would deal with all the...