Debates of August 23, 2007 (day 16)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the 14th Assembly there was a report that recommended multi-year funding and the importance that it would bring to NGO organizations to create stability and a sense of continuity for their funding source. Mr. Speaker, in the 15th Assembly I was able to work with the NWT Seniors’ Society to help get them a multi-year funding agreement, and special recognition goes to then-Minister Miltenberger of the Department of Health. Mr. Speaker, that was a milestone, I’d say, but one that, I think, passed without any thunder and excitement, because it was a big milestone. Mr. Speaker, my questions now go to, I’m going to say, Minister Roland, because I think it touches on both his departments, both Finance and Health. So my questions to Minister Roland today are what is the difficulty to create a process that still alludes us? What is the difficulty starting a program and a policy clearly outlined that can help NGOs get a multi-year funding agreement in place? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister responsible for Finance, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 189-15(6): Multi-Year Funding For Non-Government Agencies

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as the Member himself has stated, multi-year funding has been entered into in a number of areas through a number of departments and that continues to be the program we do have available. Each department would look at a case-by-case if they could support that. Ultimately, whether we call it multi-year funding or not, every year has to have its approval through our budget process and the approval of this Assembly. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 189-15(6): Multi-Year Funding For Non-Government Agencies

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, the Minister must have been answering with his Finance hat on in that situation because the fact is he’s quite correct that every year has to be approved. However, the fact is we can set out long-term agreements clearly in writing and, as I’ve said on numerous occasions, that if we have a bad year in the Assembly where we have to do cutbacks, that proviso could always be written into any agreement. I’ll tell you, the NGOs that I speak to welcome that because they recognize that we can’t predict every day for how many more years ahead of us. So the fact is, this can and will save us money. Would the Minister agree today to look into setting up a process that we could streamline a system, that any group who wants to come forward and ask for multi-year funding with the provisos required, that he can set up this process so we can get the ball moving on this initiative? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 189-15(6): Multi-Year Funding For Non-Government Agencies

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the issue of multi-year funding has been looked at by departments and, as I’ve stated, we do enter into multi-year agreements; they are case by case. I can, once again, bring back to my colleagues on the Cabinet side if this is to be reviewed and if there are potential changes that could be made there. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 189-15(6): Multi-Year Funding For Non-Government Agencies

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the answer because I see the Minister recognizes how important this is. Mr. Speaker, he says case by case. The one thing I think will help everyone out there who are in the NGOs would be, for example, if the Department of Finance set out rules and guidelines and anyone could work with the individual department. So would the Minister of Finance take upon the work to design some type of framework that an NGO can go to, maybe a website, click download it and help the application process? Therefore, when it goes to the specific department, we’ve already streamlined the system so people can go through it and see if it can work in that particular case. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Before I go to Mr. Roland, I’m going to take just an opportunity to recognize a couple of people in the Chamber that I was waiting for this opportunity while they were in here. There’s two Pages from my riding, Hay River North: Rena Squirrel at the back and Kayla Maurice right here at the front.

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They’re doing an excellent job for us. Thank you, girls. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 189-15(6): Multi-Year Funding For Non-Government Agencies

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I know the Member, whenever he rises on a question, would like to hear a simple plain yes to his questions, but I think at times we have to take a step back and look at the whole process. As we have in the past, we have looked at multi-year funding programs. There are a number of them in place, but there are so many differences between the specific departments and programs; whether they’re contract, contribution, that all has to be taken into consideration. I don’t think it is as easy as saying one process will work for everyone. But as stated, I’ll bring it back to the table for further discussion. Thank you.