Mr. Speaker, earlier in the life of this Assembly I made a Member’s statement concerning the voluntary sector in the N.W.T. The voluntary sector is essential to community wellness. Volunteers and voluntary groups, often referred to as non-government organizations, support the values and overall health of communities at large. In my previous Member’s statement and follow-up questions to the Premier, I asked the Premier to improve the G.N.W.T.’s relationship with and financing of this sector.
A first step would be to designate a lead minister responsible for the voluntary sector, a minister responsible at the executive level, rather than putting the entire sector under the responsibility of a department with a focused mandate such as Municipal and Community Affairs. The sector covers all areas of responsibility and is not limited to just sports and recreation. There is clearly a difference between volunteer development and the area of sports and recreation and dealing with government-wide policy and financing issues that cut across the sector as a whole.
When I asked him to designate a minister responsible for the sector, I received no commitment from the Premier. Since then, the Members of this Assembly have completed our strategic planning. In our strategic plan there is clear reference to supporting and strengthening the voluntary sector as a whole. The cabinet’s response to the strategic plan also makes reference to supporting the voluntary sector, as did, although incredibly briefly, the Premier in his opening comments during the sitting of this Assembly.
In order for the voluntary sector and government to work more effectively together, the responsibility for entrenching and maintaining the relationship should rest in the executive. Other jurisdictions in Canada, such as Newfoundland and New Brunswick, have already adopted this approach.
A department dedicated to relationship building, located in a department such as MACA, even though they have a lead role in sports and recreation, will be less effective in reaching across the whole of government than the responsibility based in the central and executive location.
Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time I’ll be asking the Premier questions concerning the voluntary sector and will be seeking his commitment to dedicate a Minister at an executive or cross-government level to be the primary contact for relationship building and strategic planning with the voluntary sector as a whole. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I also want to highlight the volunteer sector. It seems to be the day on both sides of the House for volunteers, the people who work in community groups and agencies and the volunteers who give their time to keep our communities healthy, vibrant and safe.
The voluntary sector is a key component that will make this government’s preventative and fiscally responsible approach work. The voluntary sector includes community groups that provide services dealing with poverty, substance abuse, family violence, homelessness, art, youth justice and the environment. They work on prevention of social issues and on skill development such as literacy, land skills and social communication.
Volunteer groups provide information about environmental issues to help us build a sustainable North, and they work hard at organizing sports and recreation events, as with the 20th Arctic Winter Games, soon to take place. Volunteer groups lead us in celebrations, music festivals, arts exhibits, cultural events and spring jamborees across the N.W.T., which help to build community and remind us of our collective joyous spirit. The sector helps us help each other. Volunteer groups have an ear to the ground in our communities, and they often understand ahead of government what the needs are to keep us safe and vibrant.
This government contributes millions of dollars to front-line volunteer groups yet offers very little directed support to help ensure maximum returns on this investment. Acknowledging this, we adopted the Volunteer Support Initiative in 2005, but we have yet to provide the necessary funds to really implement it. I want to recognize that with the loss of federal support, we did step up to provide emergency funding.
However, in recognizing the volunteer sector as one of this government’s most important partners, I urge this House to fully implement the N.W.T. Volunteer Support Initiative, confirm multi-year funding to provide certainty and efficiencies, identify a high-level single point of contact and communication, and work with Volunteer NWT to make a difference.
As we have recognized in our goals, it is through partnerships that our government can move forward in times of fiscal restraint. The voluntary sector can work with this government, business and our residents to achieve sustainable, vibrant and safe communities and the goals of the 16th Assembly. Mahsi.
