Thank you, Minister Cochrane. Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Is this project-specific? So is this funding approved by project as opposed to by community? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Minister Cochrane.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, there is an allocation done for each community, and then it is project-specific after that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister Cochrane. Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So the federal government has a program called the Small Community Fund which has a minimum of 100,000 people, or a maximum of 100,000 people. That fund is then taken and distributed to all the communities, including the very smallest of our communities, then from there the communities are asked to do project-specific items that are then funded by this Small Communities Fund program? Is that what I'm to understand from what the Minister is saying?
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Minister Cochrane.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, the Member is correct. There is a cost share within that formula, so it's 75 per cent to 25 per cent, and then the small communities have to use their share of the $28 million to access that funding source. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister Cochrane. Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, when this funding was last allocated, small community federal funding, where did it go? Did it go to all communities, project-specific? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Ms. Young.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. This is the first time the Small Communities Fund has been delivered in this manner by the federal government, but the previous program prior to this was called Build Canada and we did make access to every community the same way that we have done with the Small Communities Fund.
Thank you, Ms. Young. Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the deputy minister mentioned that there was some sort of infrastructure deficit in the whole system of all of the community infrastructure that exists. So what I'm curious about is, if a community does not have, say, paved streets. We'll use that as an example. If a community doesn't have paved streets, would that be considered an infrastructure deficit?
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Ms. Young.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. When we calculated the deficit, we did use a core suite of infrastructure in doing the calculation, and paved streets was not one of those core things for every community. That said, community governments can use the funding they receive, either through the $28 million or through other federal programs, to do pavement on streets if they so choose.
Thank you, Ms. Young. Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm getting down to what my question would be, here. So certain items which are considered infrastructure deficit by the government would not include other things that larger communities already have, like paved streets. So therefore, if those don't count as infrastructure deficits, then they don't appear anywhere as a need, therefore there is high potential for this reallocation of infrastructure funding to be taken away from smaller communities and given to larger communities.
I've looked at a document previously which shows that, that things like not everyone has everything, and I don't expect every community to have everything, however, I expect the basics to be given to the communities and for it to be completely ignored as an infrastructure deficit I think is wrong. I would like the Minister to commit to returning to the Regular Members any change in the infrastructure allegations of this $28 million back to committee? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Minister Cochrane.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. When we were looking at the deficit figures, we did consult with the NWT Association of Communities on their advice on what the infrastructure component should include. It should be noted, though, that if we did include things like paved streets then the infrastructure deficit would be quite a bit larger than it actually is. It should also be noted that we haven't changed the $28 million; the funding is still allocated to the communities as previous. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister Cochrane. Sorry, Mr. Beaulieu, your time has expired. Would you like me to put your name on again? Okay. Next we have Mr. McNeely.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My question is on the existing system. I've seen the existing system from our business plan reviews to the O and M discussions and then going back to the communities for this summer's construction season, seeing where the dollars are coming from and where they're going and how they're spent on capital applications being put forth.
So this whole model of capitalization, O and M and federal offsetting of access dollars such as what I've seen here, the small community fund, in one particular community they accessed $3 million. That's a significant amount for the construction season and the job it created.
So I'm just complimenting the system that's in place already. I wasn't here prior to what Ms. Young had mentioned on the Build Canada Fund opposed to the system now, but if the system now is working fine and if we can have assurances in the small communities that that system will continue. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. McNeely. Minister Cochrane.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I can't make assurances forever but I can ensure that during my tenure as the Minister of MACA that formula will remain. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister Cochrane. Next we have Mr. Thompson.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Does the department with this money have rules and guidelines for the projects that each community can and cannot do? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister Cochrane.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, we do. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister Cochrane. Mr. Thompson?
Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for her answer. Can we get a copy of this rules and guidelines so that we're aware of what is able and not able to be built with this money? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister Cochrane.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, we will provide the Members a copy. It comes from the CPI funding and we will provide a copy of it. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister Cochrane. Mr. Thompson.
Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister who will be providing that for us. In regards to this funding, the infrastructure deficit, does this funding allow communities to purchase or build homes for staff so they can get quality people in to the communities and give them homes so that they can do the work that's needed? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister Cochrane.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, the communities can choose to do that within their capital planning process. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister Cochrane. Mr. Thompson?
Thank you, and I thank the Minister for that because in some of the smaller communities I represent have been asking that and I've just actually got three or four e-mails that have just come to me and asking the same question. So this capital plan actually came at the right time. So is it 75/25 per cent for building these homes for the infrastructure people, like, it's for the staff that are working there, correct? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister Cochrane.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. No, that isn't correct. The federal money is a split 75/25 per cent; however, they can use their core funding to actually -- capital funding to provide those units if that's their desire. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister Cochrane. Mr. Thompson.
Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for that answer. I'm just going to assume I know this answer already but I'm going to ask it anyway: has this been shared with the communities and are the councils informed of their ability to do that? Because there seems to be some confusion out there so I'm wondering if it has been available to the communities that that’s what they can do. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister Cochrane.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, it has been shared with the communities; however if there is any community out there that is unsure of the policies going forward MACA's whole priority is to work with communities and provide them the supports they need, the tools they need to function properly. So we would more than happy to go back in and work with any community that is a bit confused on the funding process. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister Cochrane. Mr. Thompson.
Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister. I'm good with that. Once I get this information I can share with the communities, and I understand who the people are already in my riding who does the work. I again thank the Minister for clarifying that and deputy minister for clarifying that today. So thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Mr. Thompson. Mr. Blake.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just a couple of questions for the Minister. You know, I'm very familiar with municipal funding to the communities as it just came into place when I just became a chief and mayor. You know the advantages this fund has for the communities it just can't be compared to the way it used to be.
You know everybody was in line for, you know, a project for many years, but now we've just got to budget for it and plan and go forward. I really hope that this fund could continue over the years to come, and I'd just like to thank the government at the time and this government for following through on this. I know there is plans over the last while here to possibly reduce the amount going to communities. Just moving forward, I'd just like to be assured that funds, for example, for Tsiigehtchic, Fort McPherson, Aklavik will remain the same over the next few years? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Blake. Minister Cochrane.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. First of all, I'd like to say thank you for the appreciation of the work that MACA has done. I am honoured to be the Minister for MACA; it is about community development and it works well with my social work degree.
I also agree that some of the changes that they've made, things like the New Deal, the funding formula, are really progressive and do talk about community development. So thank you. The second part of that is as long as I'm here I will ensure that the funding stays. Thank you.
