Debates of May 19, 2010 (day 14)
QUESTION 176-16(5): NEED TO DEFINE VOLUNTARY SECTOR
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Premier in follow up to the questions from my colleague Mr. Bromley. I think one of the biggest problems that we have with finding ways to support the voluntary sector is the fact that I don’t think that we have a clear definition of what the voluntary sector is. You hear some people talk about pure volunteerism and I hear people talk about NGOs. Quite frankly, the voluntary sector is a combination of the two. I think that would help us an awful lot. So I was wondering if I could get the Premier to commit to working with some of these volunteer organizations and NGO organizations to come up with a definition of what the voluntary sector is so that when we’re talking about it we can be talking about one thing and, therefore, focus the attention on the voluntary sector as required. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The honourable Premier, Mr. Roland.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At this point within the Executive and within the departments, we’ve done what we can at this point. I just responded to a Member to say that if Members of this Assembly want us to do further work in there, let’s put it in writing I guess is one way to do it. Too often we make a commitment and find out that it wasn’t supported by enough of the Members of the Assembly and we end up backing down or it doesn’t get completed. In this area of finding a definition, I’m sure we could look at doing something like that, and again, through the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs that would be the first place to start because that’s where our support for volunteers is placed. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.