Debates of March 8, 2005 (day 51)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development and go back to my Member’s statement. I just have to correct myself, firstly. I mentioned the fact that it was $90 million over three years; in fact it’s over five years, which equates to about $6 million per territory per year. I’m wondering if the Minister is aware of how somebody might go about applying for receiving funding under this northern economic development money that was announced last year in the throne speech in Ottawa. Thank you.

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

Return To Question 570-15(3): Federal Economic Development Funding

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The fund the Member is referring to, we’ve had discussion with DIAND about the money and how it will flow. We’re encouraging DIAND to quickly determine what criteria will be used to evaluate proposals that come forward. We have had a lot of people in the territory interested in discussion how they might access some of this money. At this point we’re referring people to DIAND. They are controlling the money and determining how the program will be rolled out. We don’t have that detail yet. We’re hoping to get it soon and it’s certainly something on my list to speak to Minister Andy Scott about when he visits next week. I have had previous discussions with both Minister Scott and Minister Blondin-Andrew and urged them to move quickly to roll this money out. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 570-15(3): Federal Economic Development Funding

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the administration of the funds and the handling of the funds that are available, I’m wondering what discussions our government had with the federal government and the officials at DIAND that would see the Government of the Northwest Territories, which I believe would be a better vehicle to deliver this much needed economic development funding to our residents. What discussions took place between our government and DIAND in regard to who would administer these funds? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 570-15(3): Federal Economic Development Funding

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There’s quite a bit of history here; a number of meetings and discussions at several levels in our government with federal colleagues. I also had discussions with Minister Blondin-Andrew and Minister Scott. Collectively the three territories initially believed, and there’s probably still some belief, that the money should be turned over to the territorial governments, there should be bilateral contributions. We believe we have the vehicles to deliver the program funding. The federal government was insistent this was a federal program, they weren’t prepared to devolve. They do want to maintain the authority to make the decisions on which programs get funded and how this money is going to be rolled out. That said, Mr. Speaker, we are just, at this point, happy to see the economic development money will be delivered in the North. We do want to be involved in the program delivery as much as possible, but clearly it’s a federal program and we aren’t in control of it at this point. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 570-15(3): Federal Economic Development Funding

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask the Minister, to his knowledge has anyone who lives in the Northwest Territories received any of this funding from the so-called economic development money? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 570-15(3): Federal Economic Development Funding

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Not to my knowledge. My understanding is that initially the federal government had hoped to roll at least $3 million per territory out for this year prior to March 31st. It’s obviously quickly approaching March 31st. I don’t think that’s going to happen. I think now in the latest correspondence I have from Minister Scott he’s referring more to the $30 million and how that will flow going forward. I think that’s an encouraging sign. I don’t think this needed to be a sort of rush job at year-end to push a bunch of money out the door. I’d rather see a well thought out program, so I think that’s the approach the federal government is taking here. I don’t believe the program criteria have been established and if they have, they certainly haven’t been communicated to us yet. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Supplementary To Question 570-15(3): Federal Economic Development Funding

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I agree with the Minister and I appreciate his response. Absent in the Northern Strategy is economic development and an economic development agreement. I’m wondering if the Minister can tell us how Regular Members and how this government might be able to address the fact that an economic development agreement is absent from the Northern Strategy, and I believe it should be included. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 570-15(3): Federal Economic Development Funding

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know that’s how Members of this House feel. I know that that’s how residents of the Northwest Territories feel. We do need an EDA agreement. I’ve made that very clear to both Minister Blondin-Andrew and Minister Scott. Minister Blondin-Andrew agrees, as well. What we have right now is this economic development money for the next five years. Minister Scott has made the point to me that we need to talk about how to best use this money and make the compelling argument that he can take back to the Treasury Board that says this was money that was well used, obviously there was a need in the North and we need to develop and long-standing, long-term program for the interests of northerners. We’re going to certainly work to make sure that that happens, but I do agree with the Member and with Members in this House in saying that a short-term program is not going to meet the needs of northerners. We need something for the foreseeable future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.