Date
May
30
2005
Members Present
ITEM 1: PRAYER
Assembly Members
Debates of May 30, 2005 (day 4)
Topics
Statements
Member’s Statement On Youth Activity Funding
Kevin A. Menicoche
Nahendeh
Madam Speaker, today I am responding to a very alarming situation regarding the youth program budget for this year; or rather, the lack thereof. Several communities within my constituency have waited for this fiscal year to apply for youth activity funding, hoping their early application could enhance their chances for funding. I regret to say that to my chagrin the recent response from the Minister’s office was unfavourable. What was alarming was that the funds were exhausted already. How can this be when we’re only in the first quarter, Madam Speaker?
If the GNWT had little or no funding to put towards youth initiatives, then the government should not be giving the impression that they will evaluate applications or have the means to provide for them. This response, along with the drastic decrease with community-based partnership funding such as a Youth Employment Program, is very concerning to me and my constituents. Youth within communities such as Fort Liard or Wrigley have very limited opportunities and exposure with post-secondary education and youth activities. The cost for youth to visit colleges and universities or attend sports functions limits many of our youth in these communities.
Secondly, the small populations of the communities and the enormous costs often create an unrealistic or very gruelling fundraising situation. There’s really no other presence in that community other than government, Madam Speaker. With such differences in regions, this across-the-board standard calculation for evaluating funding requests alienate the communities and are unbalanced when comparing them to larger centres.
During my recent community visits, some of my constituents have expressed their opinion that the GNWT has dramatically reduced high profile community-based funding to support for the recent resource revenue sharing negotiations with the federal government. During a time when youth programs such as Healthy Living initiatives and education-based activities are regarded as crucial to a healthy development of the North, why then has this government reduced the budget for so many youth deliverables?
The youth are our future; they need our support and guidance and we, as the government of the people, cannot let them down. Mahsi cho.
---Applause