Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Non-governmental organizations, or NGOs, do a lot of important work in our communities. Some receive GNWT funding to deliver critical services such as shelters for the homeless, mental health and addictions services, services for disabled people, friendship centres, daycare and youth centres and women’s shelters. Put another way, these groups are doing vital social service work that the government would have to do if they weren’t there, and doing it better.
The NGO Stabilization Fund was established in 2009 to help these groups stabilize and develop the capacity to manage programs and services. It covers costs that aren’t core funded, like board and staff development, strategic planning, community outreach or transition costs. But the fund only has a budget of $350,000, and it’s been stuck at that amount for the last four years. It’s only open for NGOs, not to community or Aboriginal governments, land claim organizations or schools, and it’s only open to groups that already receive some level of funding from the GNWT to deliver critical service, but it cuts out new groups that might want to start offering a service in, say, Fort Providence or Enterprise. There isn’t even enough money to cover the need of all the groups that do qualify under the policy.
In 2012-13, 11 out of 27 applicants were approved, but several of the approved groups didn’t get the full amount requested. Even though many of the groups will receive funding that are based in Yellowknife, they do serve people from my constituency and we’re grateful for their work. I support raising the budget of the NGO Stabilization Fund to at least $500,000 each year.
Thank you, Mr. Nadli. The Member for Hay River North, Mr. Bouchard.
