Debates of November 28, 2007 (day 4)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, October 29, 2007, marked a very special day for municipal governance in the Northwest Territories. On that date, for the first time in over 20 years, a new hamlet was established in the Northwest Territories. That was when the Settlement of Enterprise officially changed its legislative status to become a hamlet.

---Applause

This important decision was made by community residents after many years of consideration of the impacts of greater authority and responsibility.

This is a very challenging time for all community governments in the Northwest Territories. The legislative framework for community governments was updated in 2004 to provide greater authority and accountability, and many communities are taking on more as their councils work with the legislation. Funding for community governments has increased over the past three years, but so have the challenges facing our communities and public expectations for service.

Enterprise will experience the benefits that come with hamlet status, such as the ability to pass bylaws and to establish land management and development plans.

In addition, because the community can now acquire and dispose of property and borrow to acquire assets, they will have more direct control over local programs and infrastructure. It is with great pleasure that we helped Enterprise celebrate obtaining hamlet status in October. I talked to many of the residents who, over the years, helped to make the community government what it is today in either a council or administrative capacity. Their dedication, ideas and hard work contributed to the community’s decision to take that important step in becoming a hamlet.

I would like to commend the community residents of Enterprise for their hard work and invite my colleagues in the Legislative Assembly to join me in congratulating Enterprise in obtaining hamlet status. Mahsi. Thank you.

---Applause