Debates of October 23, 2006 (day 13)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a few questions for the Minister of FMBS, Floyd Roland, in terms of the Sahtu people looking at becoming a full partnership in this government by having the Financial Management Board have an office in the Sahtu region. Is the Minister planning to move an FMBS office in our region to become a full partnership with the rest of the territorial government departments? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The time for question period has expired; however, I will allow the question to continue. The honourable Minister responsible for FMBS, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 167-15(5): FMBS Office In The Sahtu Region

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as Members realize, I believe we only have three centres where FMBS is directly involved and that’s changed with the work of Human Resources. At this point, there is no plan for FMBS to establish any more offices or add any further personnel. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 167-15(5): FMBS Office In The Sahtu Region

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Shame on this government for not having any plans to create full partners. You talk about partnerships in the regions. You have one in the Beaufort-Delta, they have one in the Deh Cho, North Slave and the South Slave. You have offices there, FMBS have staff there and nothing in the Sahtu there. No roads or access. However, Mr. Speaker, I wanted to ask when will this government think about creating partnerships with the people in the Sahtu, otherwise there might be some other issues that come up that will question the sincerity of this government in terms of developing partnerships in the Northwest Territories, including leaving the people in the Sahtu out to dry? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 167-15(5): FMBS Office In The Sahtu Region

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don’t think it’s accurate to say that as a government we’ve left the Sahtu out to dry. In fact, over the last few years this government has substantially invested in the Sahtu and its people. For example, with the health board, with the education board, human resources centre established there and hopefully, in fact, within a year a new office space to help that situation out. So we’ve invested in there and are doing the best we can with the available resources. Within FMBS itself, as I stated, we don’t have the available dollars to expand beyond the level of services that we have at this point. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Short supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 167-15(5): FMBS Office In The Sahtu Region

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, other regions have the ability to make their own decisions. Mr. Speaker, the Sahtu is left again by this government out to dry. We just don’t have the abilities. It’s all done up in Inuvik, Mr. Speaker. When will this Minister bring some proposals to have an FMB office in the Sahtu region so we can make our own decisions and have our own decisions made by our own people for the benefit of the people in the Sahtu? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 167-15(5): FMBS Office In The Sahtu Region

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the majority of decisions made now within the Sahtu are made by the people of the Sahtu when you talk about a critical program in Health and Social Services, in Education, in Human Resources even having that centre there. So, Mr. Speaker, we are working to ensure that the level of services we provide throughout the Territories is expanded to communities. If, of course, the Members of this Assembly feel that we should put more dollars into the administrative side of governance and want to give me those funds so that we can establish those office positions in the community, we would look at that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Time for question period has expired. Before we go on, colleagues, I would like to draw your attention to the gallery and the presence of a former Member of the House, Mr. Leon Lafferty.

---Applause