Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have to return to my questions to the Premier. I’d like to ask the Premier a few more questions related to some of his answers to my previous questions.
The Premier indicated that the draft strategy is being developed by a group of deputy ministers and that there is an advisory council that is assisting them. My recollection is that that advisory council is perhaps five or six members. I would like to suggest, without casting any aspersions on the abilities of the people on the advisory council, that we have a huge amount of expertise, some of which is displayed in the gallery, but the Anti-Poverty Coalition is some 26 or 29 member groups, and I feel that we are drafting in a vacuum if we don’t involve them. Is the Minister asking that all information be funneled through this advisory group to get to the people drafting the strategy?
To the discussion paper that is apparently being used as a basis for the development of an Anti-Poverty Strategy, the Minister stated that the paper is there. It hasn’t yet gone to standing committee. It hasn’t yet gone to the public. When will that happen, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Premier, Mr. McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The advisory committee that we’re referring to is made up of four people and it advised us in the early stages. The discussion paper that has been drafted looked at what is currently being done, what some of the findings are with regard to the discussion that we held with Northerners, and ways to improve the well-being and self-reliance of Northwest Territories residents and gaps and areas for improvement, amongst other things. We will review the progress on the draft strategy, and at some point in the very near future we’ll be going to standing committee to provide an update and at that time we’ll make a determination. Thank you.
Thank you to the Premier for that response. That’s all well and good, but I have to say there’s absolutely minimal opportunity for the public to have any input into the development of this strategy. I can’t stress strongly enough that we have to involve the members of the coalition and that’s not happening. I didn’t hear the Minister speak to the discussion paper. I would again ask the Minister, the Premier, when will the discussion paper be released to (a) the Standing Committee on Social Programs, and (b) the public. Thank you.
I already responded several times, that we’ve had a very wide period of consultation. In October 2010 there was an anti-poverty workshop held here in Yellowknife. From January to April 2011 we did community-wide consultations in every region. We had 30 focus group sessions in 13 communities. We talked to over 250 people. In addition, we held surveys that anybody in the Northwest Territories that had an interest or view on anti-poverty could submit. I think that we’ve covered the consultation piece quite widely. Thank you.
I’m not suggesting that consultation was not done, but when a strategy is being drafted, I suspect that there are one or two organizations within this territory who might like to have some input onto the development of that strategy. The Premier calls this paper a discussion paper. It’s for the benefit of who? Who’s doing the discussing? From what I hear it’s only deputy ministers. So to the Premier: Who is this paper intended for and is there any opportunity for the public to take part in discussing this paper? Thank you.
I think we’re following normal procedure in developing an Anti-Poverty Strategy. We will be developing a draft Anti-Poverty Strategy and will be coming forward to committee. Also, as I indicated earlier, we are meeting with the Anti-Poverty Coalition on January 19th. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Your final, short supplementary. Ms. Bisaro.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks to the Premier. I guess I don’t understand the reticence of this government to release papers that they’re using to base a strategy on. I simply want to make a statement to anybody who happens to be listening: Find a person on the advisory committee. Present your points to them; they’re the only ones that have input. Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. More of a comment, but would you like to respond? The honourable Premier, Mr. McLeod.
There will be opportunities to comment on it. We will be briefing committee. We will be providing the discussion paper and a draft strategy to committee. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
