Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to speak about Jean Marie River and MACA’s New Deal. Community capacity has been a major challenge since the Government of the Northwest Territories implemented the New Deal. For almost five years now, while some regional centres thrive, small communities struggle to take on the added responsibilities of managing infrastructure and self-governance. Jean Marie River’s population of 64 is one of these communities. The GNWT wants to transfer responsibility for local infrastructure beginning April 1st; however, the hamlet wants to defer that.
To date, no one has been trained to maintain heating, plumbing, or electrical work in the hamlet’s few public buildings. They simply cannot afford to fly someone in from Hay River every time something needs to be fixed or checked. Currently the government does have the ability with in-house staff to do that; however, when they transfer it over, the full burden of the responsibility is on the communities.
MACA is committed to helping communities implement the New Deal. The department has responded to many growing pains in certain communities over the past five years but it seems Jean Marie River has not benefited from these resources. MACA must continue to provide training to residents who are willing to learn the skills required for basic maintenance of public infrastructure. There is an opportunity to engage young people or seasonal workers. MACA can even train a small group of people to work together.
People leave our small communities because they feel like there are more opportunities and quality of life elsewhere. That’s true when things constantly break down and no one is available to repair them. Local infrastructure is closed and often vandalized, making problems worse than before. That was never the goal of the New Deal.
Independence and responsibility for municipal planning can enrich life in the communities. MACA should and must work closely with Jean Marie River to help meet its unique needs and come up with maintenance solutions that work.
I will be asking the Minister of MACA questions at the appropriate time.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.
