Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the GNWT departments are developing their business plans right now, I want to comment today on the importance of volunteers and volunteer groups, and I want to comment on the need for adequate funding for this most valuable human resource.
The GNWT seems to recognize the value of volunteers. We had a 2005 Declaration on Volunteering and a Volunteer Support Initiative. We all recognize the importance of volunteers, at least we should. The work of Northerners in the voluntary sector touches us daily. Volunteers and volunteer groups build communities through their work with community radio stations, carnivals, seniors, disability and youth groups, school councils, food banks, advocacy groups, churches, friendship centres, cultural activities, sporting events, daycares and many other services and programs that improve our lives.
Unfortunately though, our own government pays little more than lip service to the role of volunteers and the people in the voluntary sector. The GNWT has only two programs that focus on or support volunteers. One is the annual Outstanding Volunteer Awards, four of them, and the other is the Volunteer Organization Development Fund that provides funding for training up to $4,000 per organization. What the GNWT does not do is provide for coordinated umbrella support for NWT volunteers.
In 2008 when the federal government cut volunteer funding to provinces and territories, this government did not fill that financial void and Volunteer NWT ceased operations. Since 2008 no one has carried out the activities that Volunteer NWT used to do.
Contrast our commitment to that of the Yukon. Volunteer Yukon is alive and well, and has a long history of providing training services. It’s Volunteer Yukon that provides public seminars and workshops on board roles and responsibilities, financial management, strategic planning, liability and risk management, and volunteer management. Their volunteer training fund allows individual organizations in Yukon’s non-profit sector to hire their own trainer. Volunteer Yukon annually receives $67,000 as core funding, funding which allows them to hire a part-time executive director. As well, Volunteer Yukon gets $50,000 annually for programs and that’s almost twice as much funding as the NWT, but it allows oh so much more support for non-profit organizations.
I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
Here in the NWT we also provide money for training purposes. What is missing is the core funding which would allow for enhanced training and centralized help for volunteers. Our hundreds of volunteers deserve the financial commitment to match our verbal commitment. I expect MACA’s 2012-2013 business plan to include core funding for Volunteer NWT to show our commitment.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Mr. Dolynny.
