So, where does that money show up then? Is it staying within MACA or where is it? Thanks.
The money was re-profiled. It is staying within MACA. Thank you.
Where is it within MACA? Thank you.
It’s in compensation and benefits within the School of Community Government.
Now, I’m really confused. So, we’ve gone down $100,000 and you said it’s for a position that’s within the School of Community Government and I thought that what we were looking at was the School of Community Government. So, I’m lost. Or has it gone from contributions to compensation? Is that what you’re trying to tell me? Thank you. The light just went on. Thanks.
The Member is absolutely correct; it went from a contribution, less $100,000 to A Brilliant North, to compensation and benefits to your master trainer within the School of Community Government. So it went from contribution to compensation. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister McLeod. Committee, we’re on page 380, School of Community Government, grants, contributions and transfers, total contributions, $580,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Committee, page 381, School of Community Government, active positions, information item. Any questions?
Agreed.
Committee, page 383, sport, recreation and youth, operations expenditure summary, $6.792 million. Does committee agree? Ms. Bisaro.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. I have some questions here on 383, but it also applies to 384 so I hope I can refer to both of these pages.
Two issues specifically. The first one has to do with the Arctic Winter Games 2018 Host Society contribution. I’m not against the contribution, but I am really trying, and having great difficulty, in understanding why the money is being given out so early. This is 2015 and even if it goes in 2016 that’s two years in advance of the actual operations of the Games itself and it’s not my recollection for previous Games. So, can I get an explanation, please? Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. For that we’ll go to Deputy Minister Williams.
The fact that the decision has been made to move the Arctic Winter Games outside of the City of Yellowknife, there are extra costs involved, there’s less corporate ability for the host societies to attract good corporate sponsorship. There’s going to be some enhancements to facilities for either south of the lake or up in the Beaufort-Delta to take on to accommodate these games.
The decision was made two years ago, actually, to put this in our budget. We put a proposal through to increase the pot I think it was $3.5 million. It’s a million this year. Over a three-year period it goes enhancements of a million dollars per year and the third year it’s $1.5 million. It’s just to help the host society in either location because they don’t have the luxury of being in the city of Yellowknife where there’s a lot of corporate sponsorship. I think that decision is a good investment, and hopefully we have more games outside of the city of Yellowknife to build capacity at the regional level. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Williams. Ms. Bisaro.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. Thanks to the deputy minister for the explanation.
My other question here, I have two other questions actually. The second one is the amount for volunteer recognition which is $30,000. This is a large change from the last year when there was money, which was ’13-14 when it was $3,000. Nothing in ’14-15 and then $30,000 in ’15-16. If I read the description it tells me that this is to promote and encourage community volunteers and through planned community recognition events.
I guess I’m struggling with the rationale that giving money to a community for a volunteer recognition event is going to increase volunteerism, so I guess I would like to know from the Minister of the department on what did they base this decision to put $30,000 into recognition events. What rationale, what evaluation of something else proved that this was a good thing to do?
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Minister McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. This is to provide communities with $1,000 to recognize the volunteers they have in the communities, have some kind of an event for them, and that, in turn, may encourage other people to volunteer. I think this is something that is long overdue. You get a small community that can access this money and honour the volunteers in the community and that might encourage other people to volunteer. So, I think there are some other benefits to this other than just giving the community $1,000. I think it will help. I believe it will help build volunteer capacity, especially in the smaller communities where they may be challenged sometime with volunteers. I think it’s a very good initiative and I think it’s going to go towards our goal of having more volunteers, hopefully, come on stream. Thank you.
I appreciate that that’s the rationale and all well and good. This is the first year for this program, so is there going to be any kind of analysis after ’15-16 to determine whether or not – not that whether or not the money was spent, I’m sure it’ll be spent – it’s doing what it’s intended to do? Is volunteerism increasing? Because my gut feeling is that we are losing volunteers throughout the territory and I think we’ve been losing volunteers since the federal money for the Volunteer NWT disappeared. I don’t think we’ve had the same level of volunteerism since that federal money disappeared and the GNWT decided not to replace it.
So, bottom line, will there be any kind of evaluation of whether or not this money has increased the number of volunteers and overall volunteer activity in our communities? Thank you.
Yes, our plan is to do an evaluation of this and which communities had taken us up on it and whether it’s increased the number of volunteers. Especially in the smaller communities, your core volunteer group is basically the same and there are some new people that come on. Having the opportunity to be in a number of these small communities and seeing what their volunteer core group is like, you see it during events that go on in the community. The fact that we have earmarked a few dollars to help recognize some of the contributions of these people I think will go a long way to increasing volunteers in small communities. The Member is right; it has been a bit of a challenge, but I believe this type of, I’m not sure you can call it an incentive, volunteers are the last people in the world who want to be recognized, but we feel this is a small service that we can help honour volunteers. Thank you.
My last question here has to do with the proposed move of the NGO Stabilization Fund from the Executive to MACA. I have to say strongly again that this is a bad move. I think this particular fund reaches across many departments, as does the Department of Executive. Not that I have any qualms about the ability of MACA to handle this, but I just don’t think that the focus in MACA is as broad as it needs to be. The NGOs that access this fund provide very basic services on behalf of the GNWT, emergency shelters, housing, it’s quite varied and it’s not the focus that MACA has. I know the Premier has said that it’s being moved because MACA is where we have placed our volunteers and that is where we place our volunteers, but these NGOs are not strictly volunteer organizations. Several of them are businesses and they operate like a business. Although they have a volunteer board, they have staff, and they have staff who are employed and who are providing the services the GNWT has asked them to provide.
I want to say again that this is not the right place for this to be. I’ve heard from a number of organizations that have stated that things were going extremely well through the Department of Executive. Relationships have been built up; NGOs understood what was supposed to be done by whom and when and how. Basically they’re going to have to start all over again and work things out again. We went through quite a difficult time initially to get the applications dealt with in a timely manner and I certainly hope that we can keep that so that NGOs can make an application early in April and get the money long before September, or December, which I think it was in that very first year.
I guess my question is: Is MACA willing to send it back to the Executive? This is not where it needs to be. Thank you.
That is a loaded question. I think it was felt that with our experience in dealing with the voluntary sector that it would be a good fit in MACA. Thank you.
With my last seven seconds, Mr. Chair, I will say that it may have felt to be a good fit but it’s not. Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. I will take that as a comment. Committee, page 383, sport, recreation and youth, operations expenditure summary, $6.792 million. Mr. Yakeleya.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I questioned the Minister last week on a concept and the Minister responded positively to an idea. Given the 260-some-odd days left in our term, is there a possibility of looking at a pilot project like they had with the old TEST program. There are some athletes that are very gifted in the small communities and our centres. There are athletes who are going to school and are just all around in our communities. I wonder if there’s any type of discussion or looking at this from a territorial perspective. The TEST program was successful because of the dedication of staff, people, the athletes themselves and the community. It was just a long-term program that produced world-class athletes.
I wanted to say this because in our small communities there are special challenges that some of our young people have to endure and to excel at some of the sports and recreational activities that they have. I thought it would be a good idea to look at a pilot project, take a group of grade sevens and eights and say we’ll do this for you over the next four or five years, build a team. These are good, young athletes. I’d like to see how this group of athletes would do in the community, the school, academics and excel in sports. I’d like to see if something like that could be looked at by this department.
This department is very valuable to small communities. I’ve seen a lot of good work happening in our communities with recreation and youth. I’ve seen it more so in the smaller communities like Fort Good Hope and Colville Lake, Deline and Tulita. There are lots of young ones who are excited in this area here. The department has done a lot of good work in our communities in this area. There are natural-born, gifted athletes in our communities. Some of them we miss sometimes. I’m just thinking out loud here. I know that got some programs. I have already seen the programs for athletes that are aspiring to the Canada Winter Games, Pan Am Games, for the Olympics, in that capacity and they are doing quite well. There are other ones who need a little more attention and care. So, I thought this would be a good pilot to look at.
There is a group of students and young athletes in our communities and we could also monitor how they are doing in school. Are they staying away from alcohol and drugs? It is disciplined to be up there with world-class athletes. Are they doing well in the community? Are they bringing pride to the North and their community? What else do we need to do for them? The communities are so far apart and it’s a lot of work, so I’m not sure how it will be discussed at this level. It might not be a level that would get support because of the cost and funding. I understand that.
The town of Norman Wells has a karate club there. There are just young kids all over. Even to do something like that with them would be good. They have a club going with volunteers and there are little kids there five and six years old. If we had something like that, that would help them out in the community. It doesn’t take very much to get a gym, get some G’s and get a club going. They are great at five and six, so by the time they’re in Grade 12 they will show some good promise. I’m thinking that type of thinking.
We don’t have a swimming pool, so we can’t do like students in Yellowknife do and go swimming. We have good swimmers but we can’t do that, only in the summer. We’ve got a swimming pool we open up; it’s called the Mackenzie River.
We need some thinking on this to get kids moving and bring self-esteem and discipline to the kids. They are in a tough battle dealing with alcohol and drugs, gangs and violence. That world is coming to our communities now and we need to prepare them. They need to build the skills to meet the challenge and overcome it. I’m thinking about that, about these young kids in today’s society. There are lots of good people and communities.
Just last week in Norman Wells they had a parent-child hockey tournament, which is good. I’m just thinking out loud, so I’m going leave it at that. Those are my only comments for MACA.
I think MACA in my region is doing well, very good. I’m happy to see, contrary to my colleagues, what they are doing with the NGO Stabilization Fund. I’m supportive of that; I think it’s a good thing. I just wanted to say that to the Minister. If we can do some things to help our young people deal with some of today’s issues, I’m hoping it can be looked at within the 262 days. Mahsi cho.
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Minister McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. The NWT has a lot of natural athletes. I have heard that a number of times. We just don’t have the benefits of some of our larger jurisdictions’ level of competition.
The Member makes a good point and there may be some merit to that. One of our sporting partners is actually looking at something along those lines, the centre of excellence Program, or we would have a number of our higher performing athletes in one central place. There is some merit to that. We’ve asked for a business case as to how to move this forward. I don’t think it’s something that’s going to happen overnight.
We have to be prepared for 2023 when the Canada Winter Games is going to come to the Northwest Territories. There is some merit to that. Through the number of programs that we offer, we give young people an opportunity to be active. Some take us up on it and they start to progress through the athletic stream, then there are some commitments that they have to make on their behalf. Some of that commitment may require moving away from home for a while to train with others in their field. So there is a huge commitment. We will do what we can, as a department and as a government, to put the tools in place. We will commit to doing our part.
We need to see our young people, too, doing their part. It’s not only becoming elite athletes, it’s all about becoming active. There is a progression. We have seen what committed athletes who are committed to their training can do on the national scene and the international scene. We will do what we can to put tools in place. At the same time, we need that commitment from our young people to take us up on some of the options that we put forward for them. There is some merit to that. Again, come 2023 we want to make sure that the NWT is competitive. The past number of Canada Games that I’ve attended, I see us becoming more and more competitive. That’s just based on the natural ability of a lot of our athletes. If we get them the training of the competition, I think that will start making more noise. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister McLeod. Committee, we are on page 383, sport, recreation and youth, operations expenditure summary, $6.792 million. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Page 384, sport, recreation and youth, grants, contributions and transfers, total grants and contributions, $4.987 million.
Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you. Page 386, sport, recreation and youth, active positions. Any questions?
Agreed.
Thank you. Page 387, work performed on behalf of others. Any questions?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. If I can get you to turn to page 351, Municipal and Community Affairs, total department, $101.477 million.
Agreed.
I’m sorry; I will repeat that number: $103.477 million.
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Does committee agree that consideration of the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs is completed?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. I’d like to thank our witnesses here today. Mr. Schauerte, Mr. Williams, thanks for joining us. Of course, Minister McLeod, it’s always a pleasure to have you here. Sergeant-at-Arms, if you could escort the witnesses out of the Chamber, please. Thank you.
Committee, we’ll just take a two-minute recess.
---SHORT RECESS
Alright, committee, we’ll continue on with the Department of Lands. With that, I’ll turn it over to the Minister responsible for opening comments, Minister McLeod.
I am pleased to present the 2015-2016 Main Estimates for the Department of Lands. Overall, the department's estimates propose an increase of $2.438 million, or 9 percent, over the 2014-2015 Main Estimates.
Highlights of the proposed estimates include:
$2.8 million in new initiatives. These initiatives are funded from the reserve set aside by this Assembly for devolution impacts identified after the 2014-2015 Main Estimates were considered by this Assembly. These initiatives include:
$1.006 million for the new liabilities and financial assurances division to manage and coordinate the financial assurances for resource development projects to ensure that companies meet their obligations for environmental liabilities. We want this government to improve on the inherited federal system by developing and managing environmental liabilities and appropriate financial assurances through whole project assessment, in collaboration and coordination with GNWT regulatory departments and central agencies.
$133,000 for one new resource management officer Ill position in the North Slave regional office for diamond mine inspections associated with the Gahcho Kue Mine. Over 40 percent of the resources of this department are invested in land administration to ensure the lawful use of land and protection of this public asset. Key to that protection is our aggressive regional-based inspection and enforcement program, guided by a rigorous risk assessment tool. Our inspection program must be responsive to the growth in diamond and other mining sectors.
$694,000 for strategic investments to support this Assembly's priority to diversify and help grow the economy, by establishing a Western Arctic Centre for Geomatics in Inuvik.
$290,000 for a coordinator and legal advisor to continue with the coordinating role for GNWT input into the federal Regulatory Improvement Initiative and the amendments to the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act and to help ensure the NWT Surface Rights Board is established and operational by April 1, 2016. New regulations being contemplated under the act will be largely administered by this government through its new delegated authorities. A coordinated approach will maximize our influence in shaping the regulatory regime and help minimize our exposure to administrative burdens under new regulations. This work is planned for completion in the next three years.
$51,000 to respond to this government's priority to provide French language communication and services;
$456,000 to fund compensation and benefit impacts and transition allowances payable to some transferring federal employees under the terms of the Devolution Agreement; and
$557,000 for Collective Agreement increases.
This department held the line on expenditure management with no forced growth other than Collective Agreement increases.
We are further responding to the government's fiscal pressures through ongoing reductions to the operating base totaling $297,000 and sunsets of $452,000 for onetime funding in support of our first year of operation.
The proposed estimates continue to support the priorities of the 17th Assembly. Specific activities in support of these priorities include:
Significant progress since taking over the management of public land in the Northwest Territories on April 1st. Over the last 10 months we have been building our foundation, first-time filling our positions and amalgamating federal and GNWT programs and services. We recognize the importance of our human resources. In support of the 17th Assembly's priority to invest in people, in our first nine months we have invested over $108,000 in training our staff.
We have also made significant progress across the department towards implementation and monitoring of the Land Use Sustainability Framework. We are developing policy frameworks for recreational land management and effective land use planning in all regions of our territory. We have continued to make progress on the implementation of the Surface Rights Board Act. We have conducted 600 inspections as of December 31st. We have done this while providing advice and support to government-wide decision-making and departmental coordination for significant resource development and security reviews.
The Western Arctic Centre for Geomatics will capitalize on the investments this government is making in the Mackenzie Valley Fibre Optic Link and on opportunities presented by the lnuvik Satellite Station Facility and space agencies to secure data and use remote sensing tools and technology for baseline monitoring.
This department recognizes that this government is only one partner in an integrated land management system. Land management decision-making must recognize and respect Aboriginal and treaty rights as well as third-party land interests and legal rights. We have begun to work with our stakeholders and Members in developing policies that meet the needs of all Northerners.
This government has made clear their interest and identified priorities for this department, and we are better positioned now to fulfill properly our mandate. I am committed to engaging with Members on a regular basis as we go forward and as we roll out these new initiatives.
This concludes my opening remarks. I look forward to Members’ comments and questions. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister McLeod. Minister McLeod, do you have any witnesses you’d like to bring into the House?
I do, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister McLeod. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Sergeant-at-Arms, if you could please escort our witnesses into the Chamber.
Minister McLeod, if you’d be kind enough to introduce your witnesses for the record.
