Debates of March 2, 2005 (day 47)

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My question today is for the honourable Minister of RWED. Recently, on the weekend I did manage to make it over to Wrigley, but that’s another story.

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The needs in Wrigley, Mr. Speaker, are they still need capacity building assistance help with developing their communities and EDO position. It’s much like many of the smaller communities in my riding, including Jean Marie River. What are the plans for the Minister of RWED to assist and aid these communities with respect to establishing economic development officer positions? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Bell.

Return To Question 520-15(3): Establishing Community Economic Development Capacity

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can’t, for the Member, indicate what the exact arrangements are in Wrigley and Jean Marie River in terms of EDO support. I can get that information for the Member, but we do have a couple of different arrangements that vary by community and vary depending on what the community’s interests are. In some communities, in some regions, we have RWED staff that fill that role and through the community transfer initiative some time back, RWED was able to transfer funding to communities to have them provide the service for the community and on that community’s behalf. So it depends on the community as to the option they’ve chosen. We have found that some communities that initially took on that role have given it back to RWED for a number of reasons. We did have some discussion, as well, Mr. Speaker, with committee about the adequacy of EDO funding by community and by region. A number of other Members have raised that in the House and that is something I intend to investigate and pursue. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 520-15(3): Establishing Community Economic Development Capacity

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I guess with the imminent split of the two departments, I guess the communities would want to know which department will be the applicable department in terms of accessing these funds that were provided in the past. Which department would fund that particular EDO or that particular sector which is developing capacity, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 520-15(3): Establishing Community Economic Development Capacity

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In terms of existing arrangements, we believe it will be a seamless transition from RWED to the two new departments. But it would be ITI that would be responsible for providing the submissions to communities and staffing these positions where we have that arrangement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 520-15(3): Establishing Community Economic Development Capacity

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I guess one of the biggest issues is that things are picking up in the Deh Cho, so that’s what the communities have been asking. They’re saying, look, we’re being overwhelmed by these huge volumes of binders of information that we have to go through. That’s what I was trying to get from the Minister is if there is a specific program designed to help the communities with this need. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 520-15(3): Establishing Community Economic Development Capacity

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There’s no short answer to this, but I do understand what the Member is talking about. In terms of communities’ ability to intervene and the environmental impact statement process for the pipeline, they are challenged. There are reams of information to sift through. I’ve been discussing that with my colleagues, most specifically with the Minister of MACA, but also with the social envelope Ministers. We had a meeting this morning to discuss some of these challenges. We are looking to provide some help and looking to come up with a framework that will have some answers and provide some solutions for communities. In my travels in communities, I’m hearing the same things. We’re hearing that they are challenged in terms of capacity. We want to make sure that everybody can have a meaningful involvement and participation in this process.

To the broader issue of economic development initiatives in general, we hope that this BDIC legislation will be more flexible, less prescriptive, allow for broader partnerships, and allow for communities to not only get access to GNWT programs and services, but be able to lever that with federal money or other money that is available. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Final supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 520-15(3): Establishing Community Economic Development Capacity

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to thank the Minister for that answer. He covered just about everything.

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I’m glad for that. I just have one question I’m curious about. I hope there is not an interruption in service when we split RWED in providing service to the communities. If the Minister could assure me of that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 520-15(3): Establishing Community Economic Development Capacity

I can give the Member that assurance. I also want to say to the Member and other Members, if issues do come up and there are things that arise and Members believe it is as a result of the transition process, I want to make sure they bring them to my attention as quickly as possible. We want to work with our regional staff, as I said, to make sure this is a seamless transition. We want to make sure there’s no interruption for our clients and this is of utmost priority. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.