Debates of May 30, 2005 (day 4)

Thank you, Madam Speaker. This question is for the Minister responsible for Youth. Knowing that the government must commit to additional investment with respect to youth initiatives for healthy and prosperous communities, why has the government reduced funding for this fiscal year to the point that funds have been exhausted in the first month of this fiscal year? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The Minister responsible for Youth, Mr. McLeod.

Return To Question 46-15(4): Youth Contribution Program Funding For Nahendeh

Madam Speaker, we have many youth programs that we have developed over the years and many new programs. I am not sure exactly where the Member is going when he says that we have reduced funding. We have a budget for youth in a lot of different areas. We have a budget for youth core funding which is dedicated towards providing assistance to larger-scale programs in the different communities and organizations and individuals. We also have the Youth Contributions Program that has money allocated for travel and different organizations. We also have our Volunteer Development Program, our Pan-Territorial Sports Program and the sports and recreation contributions to the communities.

I would have to ask the Member to clarify which program he is indicating, because I do not believe that there has been any reduction. Our programs have maintained their level of funding. We have actually added more programs this year with the introduction of the NWT Games; we also have the Community Initiatives Program that is in place.

The Member may be referring to funding that is allocated to the different regions now that we have changed the process of how applications are handled. Historically, the applications came directly to us in headquarters. We no longer do that. The money is now allocated, for the most part, to the different regions. Of course, the programs are well utilized and well subscribed to. The money does run out early in the year and in this case I believe the Member is referring to a youth contribution application that was made and was able to be funded. That is all I can say on that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 46-15(4): Youth Contribution Program Funding For Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. I guess a little bit of clarification is in order for the Minister. During my recent tour I went to Wrigley and Fort Liard and the students there were looking at traveling for track and then going down for some orientation and looking at some areas of further education down in Alberta. I went to the Minister and asked him, I said look, these communities need help. He said no, we cannot help them. I said, well why? The official response was we have no more money in the pot. My question to the Minister, Madam Speaker, is why do we not have any more money? This is still May and we just received a new budget two months ago. My question to the Minister is why don't we have any money to assist these communities and these youth organizations? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 46-15(4): Youth Contribution Program Funding For Nahendeh

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, some of the regions have already allocated all of their money. For the program that the Member is referring to, the Youth Contributions Program, we have $125,000 for 33 communities across the Territories. That doesn't go very far. We have looked at different ways to try to make the dollars stretch a little further. We have looked at capping the amounts that we make in terms of contributions. We have looked at limiting the different organizations in the communities. We are trying to find ways to be able to spread that around a little further, but up until now that is all the money that we have to deal with. That was the amount approved in the budget, so it really restricts us on the number of applications that come forward from all the different communities. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 46-15(4): Youth Contribution Program Funding For Nahendeh

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am sure that the government and the Minister are well aware that many of these smaller communities have no other resources, such as the larger communities which can go to industry and can go to private enterprises. Small communities, Madam Speaker, like Wrigley and even Fort Liard to some extent, don't have those opportunities to ask other areas. They are coming to me and I am asking the government look, we have to help them out and they are telling me no. I am saying when is this government going to help our small communities? They must know that they have no other sources to go to. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 46-15(4): Youth Contribution Program Funding For Nahendeh

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, we have a $1 million budget in the area of youth programs and three-quarters of that, or $750,000, is budgeted for Youth Corp Programs. There is $125,000 for the youth contributions. There is some money for a youth program advisor. All the money that we have in our budget goes to the communities. We recognize that the needs and requests that are coming forward are a lot more than we can accommodate. I am certainly willing to provide a breakdown of the money that was allocated to the Member's riding, for him to see where the money has been spent and to have further discussion with him to see how we can make the dollars go further in his riding. The southern communities have historically applied earlier on for the different funds to go on different trips and, of course, because we’re very limited in where we can spend that money, it doesn’t go very far. But I certainly would like to sit down with the Member and point out and outline all the different programs we have for funding and also give him a breakdown of what was spent or where this money that was allocated to his region, his riding, was spent. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

Supplementary To Question 46-15(4): Youth Contribution Program Funding For Nahendeh

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would very much look forward to the Minister providing that information to me and if they can provide it before we leave this session this week. It’s just that myself and the Minister and the government are aware of the small communities, but I think what’s happening, Madam Speaker, is that in the small communities' perspective this does not exist in our bureaucracy. So we’re going to have to look at some way of addressing that. Once again, if the Minister will provide that information to me before we leave this session, that will be appreciated. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 46-15(4): Youth Contribution Program Funding For Nahendeh

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, we certainly would be pleased to provide that information. As I indicated before, our dollars flow out to the communities. A number of projects were funded over the years in the Member’s riding. We’d be pleased to share that information. Of course, we’re always looking at any way we can supplement our budget. We’d like to see the youth programming and youth projects increase. So we will be maintaining another ask for any new monies that come forward from the federal government or to this government, and we’d certainly keep our interests forward for all the different communities. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The time for question period is over. Item 7, written questions. Item 8, returns to written questions. Item 9, replies to opening address. Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to return to item 6 on today’s agenda. Thank you.