Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]
Mr. Speaker, I would like to talk about the community status of Lutselk'e. Mr. Speaker, Lutselk'e is governed by the Lutselk'e Dene First Nation and, according to the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, the Lutselk'e Dene First Nation is a designated authority for delivery of municipal services.
Mr. Speaker, Lutselk'e is with the Akaitcho Territory Government. The Akaitcho Territory Government is in land negotiations with the Government of Canada, so as you can imagine, there are complex factors involved here with regard to community governance. On the one hand the community of Lutselk'e does not want to give up the status of a First Nation government. On the other hand the department responsible for funding and supporting municipal governments, MACA, seems intent on holding steadfast to the terms and conditions of its NWT Act and less on trying to work with the community and their input for municipal governance. Mr. Speaker, this can be perceived as one government telling another government what to do and, worse, telling them what to think.
Mr. Speaker, Lutselk'e is in need of additional funds to deliver its municipal services. The community suffers from a lack of infrastructure and has mud and dust issues. A drainage study is needed to open the door for many infrastructure and municipal projects. However, the department will not increase its contribution to the community until it converts over to a hamlet status. This does not make sense to the community leadership.
Mr. Speaker, the community does appreciate the position of the government’s cautious approach to this issue, but at the same time, they don’t understand why the government can’t be flexible on the issue; that is, to amend the NWT Act to allow First Nation governments to receive similar funding levels received by hamlets. I agree with the community and feel that if the department were to consider this, that Lutselk'e would make an ideal community to implement something like this. It is a smaller community with limited scope of community services and only has one governing body, the Lutselk'e Dene First Nations. Today I will ask questions of the Minister of MACA on this issue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.
