Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I spoke about the vital role the Zhatie Koe Friendship Centre plays in Fort Providence and the uncertainty of funding commitments to the Northwest Territories friendship centres. My questions are to the Premier today. My first question is: when the Northwest Territories’ group of friendship centres sought core funding from Cabinet last spring, what was the outcome of that meeting? Mahsi.
Masi. The Honourable Premier.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I’ll thank the Member for the question. I just want to point out that friendship centres provide a very important service to the communities, and the friendship centre movement I believe is a very unifying force in the communities. Having said that, the friendship centres are core funded by the federal government and the Government of the Northwest Territories is not privy to those fiscal arrangements.
I do know that the federal government has been looking at a broad range of fiscal arrangements with Indigenous organizations and this may include friendship centres. Our understanding from the friendship centres is that they have a concern over possible funding reductions, and just recently you’ve been made aware that they’ve reached an agreement but there are delays in the flow of funding. When we met in May, a request for core funding was not made. The only request that was made was to establish a process whereby we could work with them so that they could fundraise on a more effective basis.
I’d like to thank the Premier for his reply. My second question is: in the absence of core funding, will Cabinet consider bridged funding for the Zhatie Koe Friendship Centre to ensure they can stay in operation until their federal funding comes through?
As I said, the friendship centres provide a very important service. I’ve recently seen some correspondence where we’ve been asked to lobby on their behalf with regard to having the funding flow more quickly from the federal government. This is certainly one of the areas where the federal government and the friendship centres can work together to help advance and facilitate the aims of the friendship centres.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my years as MLA, I have witnessed many occasions where Cabinet has found funding for urgent projects and supplementary initiatives. This suggests to me that the funding is there and can be found if there’s a political will to find it. Will the Premier be hero for the Northwest Territories’ friendship centres and work with his Cabinet colleagues to find funding for them?
We’re always looking at ways to become heroes,
---Laughter
but I should say that over the past three years the friendship centres have accessed funding from the territorial government. We’ve provided over $900,000 to the friendship centres for program delivery. The friendship centres provide a lot of important programs and services on our behalf, and they also are able to access, on an application basis, other funding pots that are available. As I said, I expect to be able to respond to the friendship centres with regard to trying to find a way to work with them and to improve their ability to fundraise.
Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. He has indicated that he’s working with the Northwest Territories Association of Friendship Centres for a process to work together. Will the Premier commit to the Northwest Territories’ Association of Friendship Centres that he will work together with the Cabinet, along with our federal colleagues, to ensure that there’s consistent and timely transfer of funding to friendship centres.
I think it would be a shame if friendship centres had to lay off workers and employees because funds that are supposed to flow are not flowing as quickly as they should. We’re quite prepared to work with all of the different bodies and institutions to try to find a workable arrangement so that friendship centres can continue to provide the important services that they provide to the communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Mackenzie Delta.
