Debates of October 14, 2005 (day 10)

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My question, Mr. Speaker, is to the Honourable Joe Handley. It’s just a question on some Northern Strategy dollars that have rolled out in the last couple of months. I just want to ask the Minister if any of these Northern Strategy dollars have been accessed by any of the communities in the NWT to date. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 121-15(4): Access To Northern Strategy Funds

Mr. Speaker, no. No communities have accessed any of the money. The money will not be available to any of the Members until this House has debated the proposal and has agreed with it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 121-15(4): Access To Northern Strategy Funds

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Premier, for that. I guess the proposal that this House will be debating, are we going to bring that proposal forward any time soon and get the debate over and done with so that communities can access these Northern Strategy dollars? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 121-15(4): Access To Northern Strategy Funds

Mr. Speaker, yes, the money is identified in the supp and will be open for debate at that time. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 121-15(4): Access To Northern Strategy Funds

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess it has just come to my attention that Nunavut and the Yukon have already had access to these Northern Strategy dollars and the communities are already putting proposals forward to spend some of that money. I guess the Minister is well aware of the divisiveness in the communities that has arisen because of these Northern Strategy dollars. Does this government have any plan of assisting these communities to work out and develop some good community plans to spend some of these northern infrastructure dollars? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 121-15(4): Access To Northern Strategy Funds

Mr. Speaker, last spring when we had the Circle of Northern Leaders meeting, we heard very loud and clear messages from local leaders that they wanted the ability to lead, to be leaders. They are elected. They wanted to be able to decide on the highest priority of their communities. Generally, that’s what we heard across the Territories. So we have designed this proposal in a way that responds to that. Having said that, if some communities would prefer to submit applications to us and have us decide amongst the applications that we receive, then we’re starting to prepare to do that. That’s been the conventional way of doing it, and that’s always an option for communities if it’s too divisive or they have other reasons why they would like us to do it. They have three years to access the money, and we’d be pleased to do it, but at the same time we want to respond to the message we heard loud and clear from local leaders to let them lead. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Final supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 121-15(4): Access To Northern Strategy Funds

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was just wondering, I know the communities probably don’t want the government to decide how they’re going to spend these dollars because the autonomy has gone to the community level anyway. But I just wanted to ask the Minister if the government would propose or consider an option of being mediator to a lot of these community governments that are having problems with each other in developing good comprehensive plans on how they’re going to spend these dollars and where their priorities should go. Is the government willing to entertain a position of that nature? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 121-15(4): Access To Northern Strategy Funds

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we would be willing to do that, but we will not interfere unless the community asks us to come in. We will have people, through the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, who will advise them on how the money has to be accounted for. But in terms of setting their priorities, we won’t get involved with that unless they are asking us to help them do it. Of course, if they have questions, we’re always open to answer questions, provide advice, provide help wherever we can. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Going back to my Member’s statement today on the pipeline, I have a couple of questions for Mr. Handley. I read, with interest, some of the comments he made in the paper about some of the demands being excessive. Does he believe that this could possibly kill the project? Thank you.