Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On October 6, 2008, in my Member’s statement I talked about this government’s limited support for youth in smaller communities. Many of our smaller communities struggle daily with little or no youth budgets. Municipal budgets are already strained with O&M and delivering essential services.
Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister responsible for Youth. I’d like to ask the Minister: can he advise this House what the current level of funding specifically earmarked for youth, not counting education budgets, is for 2008–09?
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Minister McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The budget for 2008–2009 for Youth was approximately $1.15 million broken out into three different categories: the NWT Youth Core, the Youth Contributions Program and the Youth Centres Initiative.
During my visit to the communities this past year I heard from the youth in both communities about how they feel and what they need. “There is not much for us to do” is often the comment.
Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell this House what the plans are, if any, to increase the budget in the Youth portfolio for 2009–2010?
The 16th Legislative Assembly has identified youth as a priority. With the upcoming business plans I’m sure there will be an opportunity to look at increasing the Youth budget. I agree with the Member. I remember that the youth are a priority. If there’s an opportunity to increase funding for youth programs, I think it’s something that should be looked at.
Mr. Speaker, will the Minister commit to conducting a comprehensive review of how Youth budgets are currently allocated, specifically in the Tu Nedhe communities — if there are any planned budgets going into those two communities of Lutselk’e and Fort Resolution?
As part of my familiarization with all the monies that are available to Youth, I would commit to conducting a review. It ties in, in part, to familiarizing myself with the Youth department and seeing what else there is that we can do out there. I would commit to having a review of the youth programs and the Youth funding.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister commit to working with me and each of the Tu Nedhe communities of Fort Revolution and Lutselk’e to develop a youth strategy? I feel that a youth strategy is important. I define the youth strategy as a comprehensive, community based approach to investing in Youth budgets, programming, infrastructure and other youth related support.
I would make that commitment to work with the Member for Tu Nedhe and every other Member on the other side of the floor to come up with a good youth strategy. Like I said earlier, it is a priority of the 16th Assembly, and it is a strong personal belief of mine that we have to put youth as a priority and see what we as an Assembly can do for them. I would make that commitment to the Member: I will work with the Member for Tu Nedhe plus all Members on that side to come up with a youth strategy.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
