Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s my pleasure to share with colleagues some of the positive results that have been realized to date in the first year after the formal implementation of the New Deal for NWT Community Governments.
Implemented April 1, 2007, the New Deal is designed to provide communities with increased authority in decision making on capital projects. Designed in partnership between the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs and community governments, the initiative reflects a huge shift in our government’s approach to planning, designing and implementing community public infrastructure, in response to a long-standing desire of many of our communities. With increased authority comes increased responsibility, and everyone involved recognizes that community governments must be supported if they are to be able to successfully manage these new responsibilities.
The Department of Municipal and Community Affairs has worked to provide a range of supports for community governments. Numerous community, regional and territorial workshops have been held to support the development of a five-year capital investment plan. Training has been provided in capital-planning methods and best practices. The School of Community Government has developed courses in asset management, infrastructure financing and other related issues.
In addition, through ongoing partnerships with the NWT Association of Communities and the Local Government Administrators of the NWT, MACA is supporting opportunities to share templates and best practices amongst communities so that learning from each other’s experience can be maximized. Pilot projects have demonstrated that communities have the skills and abilities to successfully take on new responsibilities, and I would like to highlight a few examples.
The Hamlet of Fort Liard completed their long-awaited maintenance garage as well as office and fire hall upgrades in one construction season, on time and on budget, by bundling the projects.
The Hamlet of Fort McPherson is planning the grand opening of their new community complex this spring. The building will include the hamlet offices, a youth centre, an elders centre and a community radio station. By levering funds from other sources, the community has acquired a multi-purpose building that will serve a range of needs.
The K’asho Got’ine council in Fort Good Hope will be starting construction on their new community office complex this summer and, through this process, have developed local capacity in project design and management.
The Yellowknives Dene First Nation are proceeding with a new community complex in Dettah and, in the process, are working in partnership with MACA to find a way for all designated authority band governments to deal with restrictions in the Indian Act.
In all cases communities have taken MACA funding and enhanced local projects by accessing other funding sources.
The New Deal is a new way of doing business, one which reflects a more balanced and respectful partnership between the Government of the Northwest Territories and community governments. In a time of strained resources I’m pleased to note that there has been a significant increase in the amount of funding available to the community governments to implement community public infrastructure.
The Government of the Northwest Territories capital formula funding, along with an increase in federal infrastructure funding, will result in an increase of over 250 per cent in funding for community public infrastructure, from an average of $17 million per year in 2004–2005 to $49.5 million per year in 2009–2010. While this increase does not address the infrastructure deficit that our communities face as a result of the impacts of deferred maintenance on the lifespan of existing infrastructure, it allows them to make great strides in addressing that issue.
Experience over the past year has demonstrated that communities are competent and capable of managing complex infrastructure projects. With ongoing support, advice and mentorship from the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, we will continue to see the development and growth in community capacity and achievement.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
