Debates of March 10, 2005 (day 53)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question today is for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, the Honourable Michael McLeod. Earlier, the Minister announced a new deal for community governments. Included in the budget, Mr. Speaker, there was $1 million allocated to identify, consult and plan for the use of the enhanced deal. Can the Minister provide more detail on how this money will be spent? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. The honourable Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. McLeod

Return To Question 590-15(3): New Deal For Community Governments

Mr. Speaker, the Member is correct; there is some money identified for planning and consultation of $1 million for this upcoming fiscal year. It’s to give us some resources to have a consultation process with the communities. We would be able to talk to the community leaders and it would also allow us to talk to some SAOs at some of the different criteria we are looking at and some of the projects in the capital plan and have a good thorough discussion on the needs of the communities out there. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Pokiak.

Supplementary To Question 590-15(3): New Deal For Community Governments

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Presently, my understanding is that most communities have a community plan in place or they have five-year capital plans. Why would the department want to consult and plan when there are plans in place for five-year capital plans in the communities? Why not take some of that money and put some other plans in place that are already identified? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 590-15(3): New Deal For Community Governments

Mr. Speaker, it’s important that the community recognize that under the new deal, we are looking at allocating money directly to the communities as part of community infrastructure. For us, historically, that has been a fairly small amount. It was anywhere between $13 million and $17 million. As part of the new deal, this government has decided to increase that amount to a $25 million pot that will be accessible to communities.

Throughout the years as our plan has evolved, a lot of projects that historically used to be involved were not accepted, especially in areas like recreation projects and a lot of other initiatives that communities may desire to put in a community. So we have to make sure that communities are aware of what our initiative is, are aware of what we are planning to do with the new deal, are aware of the new funding that’s coming forward under MRIF and also the gas tax, so we can have discussions around all these issues to ensure that communities don’t come back and say we didn’t think that was allowed under the planning. We want to make sure everybody is involved, including the SAOs, that everybody has a chance to have their say. That’s why we are doing it. Some projects have not been high priority anymore. That may change and I think we need to be inclusive of all the communities. So that’s what we are trying to do. Thanks.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Pokiak.

Supplementary To Question 590-15(3): New Deal For Community Governments

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am still not convinced, Mr. Speaker, that $1 million in communities does about 500 cubic metres of gravel to do our roads in Tuk or erosion programs. I understand what the Minister is saying. When can this $1 million be available to communities? When can the department identify these needs for the communities?

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 590-15(3): New Deal For Community Governments

Mr. Speaker, we should be clear that the $1 million is for planning and consultation and not for actual capital projects. The capital dollars allocated for next year are around $17 million. We are planning in 2006-07 to increase the capital budget for communities to $25 million. So we have to get out there. We have to make sure everybody is included in the discussions, everybody is consulted, everybody knows what the game plan is, so they can tell us what projects are out there and why they want to deal with certain initiatives in the communities. That is what those dollars are for. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.