Debates of February 25, 2005 (day 44)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise again to ask questions about multi-year funding and my questions will be directed to the Premier of our government. Mr. Speaker, it’s my opinion that multi-year funding could be the hallmark of this Assembly instead of oil and gas and hydro. So with that question with regard to multi-year funding, is it a position or a policy of this government to create instability or uncertainty amongst our volunteers or in the NGO sector, or at the very least is it a position of our government, although maybe not written, to support our volunteer or NGO sector? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. I’ve heard about two or three questions there. I’ll let the Premier answer one. Mr. Premier.

Return To Question 487-15(3): Multi-Year Funding For Non-Government Organizations

Mr. Speaker, I’ll answer the last question. Yes, it is the policy of our government to support non-government organizations within the mandate that we give them. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 487-15(3): Multi-Year Funding For Non-Government Organizations

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you for being very clear on your support, Mr. Premier. Mr. Speaker, I believe that these NGOs provide the frontline service that our government does not provide. Does this Premier have a position in this government that these NGOs provide a significant role to the social fabric of the Northwest Territories that the government is not offering in basic service? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 487-15(3): Multi-Year Funding For Non-Government Organizations

Mr. Speaker, there may be some cases where NGOs are offering a service that we do not offer. In most cases, I would look at it as the NGOs enhancing the programs and services that we offer by dealing with it in a more specific way, often regionally or by community or simply in terms of the mandate doing it in a more detailed way. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 487-15(3): Multi-Year Funding For Non-Government Organizations

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my next question for the Premier of our government truly is a straightforward one; maybe we’ll get a direct answer on this one. Mr. Speaker, in June of 2002 we had our government table the action plan for a social agenda. Where is this government’s action plan to addressing the need for multi-year funding to address the starving stability that’s out there for NGOs and volunteer organizations? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 487-15(3): Multi-Year Funding For Non-Government Organizations

Mr. Speaker, I’m not really sure what starving stability is or isn’t.

---Laughter

But, Mr. Speaker, with regard to the issue of multi-year funding, our government has and continues to negotiate for multi-year funding with non-government organizations. We have done that, we’re doing it and we’ll continue to do that. Mr. Speaker, I have to say though that every multi-year funding agreement is subject to the appropriation being passed in this House. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Final supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 487-15(3): Multi-Year Funding For Non-Government Organizations

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a heavy booklet here that’s double sided. There are 40 line items a page and there are about 10 pages here of groups that we make go through hoops and wringers every year to sign up for their funding, and they only get the phone call at the 11th hour on year-to-year funding. They have to do proposal after proposal every year. This creates instability and they can’t hire workers. My question for the Premier is will he look at addressing the problem with multi-year funding, as outlined in the social agenda tabled in this House in June of 2002, and address this problem immediately? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 487-15(3): Multi-Year Funding For Non-Government Organizations

Mr. Speaker, even if non-government organizations have multi-year funding agreements, they still have to annually account for the money that has been given to them. We still have the right and responsibility to change the mandate or change the contract that we may have with them. Mr. Speaker, this House votes the budget every year. We can’t have multi-year agreements that go beyond the authority of this House. So, Mr. Speaker, they will continue to have to account for the money. If some NGOs are frustrated because they are applying for money every year, then they should talk to the appropriate Minister about negotiating a multi-year funding agreement so they don’t have to put in a new application every time. But they will have to account for their money each year, Mr. Speaker.