Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Over the last couple of decades many programs that were once provided by the NWT have been turned over to non-government organizations to deliver, known as NGOs. NGOs would also offer additional programs. These programs are vital as they improve the quality of life for people in the North. Many are programs that provide social services. For example, in the NWT our family assistance and counselling, emergency and transitional housing for homeless families, shelters for women and children, services for adults with disabilities and mental health issues and quite a few other programs.
Mr. Speaker, about $20 million is provided to NGOs. A recent government list indicates there are 472 NGOs in the Northwest Territories. Yellowknife alone has 291 NGOs, Mr. Speaker. Yellowknife has as many NGOs as Colville Lake has people. To put it in perspective, that means every YK NGO can advocate for every member of Colville Lake and then some. Not only do these NGOs deliver programs, they have goals and objectives to help people in need and to advocate for people.
Saying this indicates that there are no NGOs in the Sahtu, Mr. Speaker. None. Zero. Nothing. Why doesn’t the Sahtu have its own NGOs? It’s because our people aren’t used to the concept of NGOs or that NGOs aren’t treated the same as government programs. More specifically, our communities are too small that there aren’t enough people set up as registered societies let alone prepare proposals, maintain financial records and complete all the other related tasks.
NGOs choose to locate in larger centres where there’s enough people to sit on the boards, do administrative work and to deliver the programs, plus create a service that helps all people in the Northwest Territories.
The Sahtu may get some services through the NWT-based NGOs, but it’s always that my constituents are losing out on a lot of social support and assistance, because no money enters into the Sahtu through the local NGOs. I believe it’s unfair, Mr. Speaker, and that the Sahtu residents should receive a share of funding that goes to these programs and services. We don’t have an NGO to help with the homeless or to support families in crisis or in shelters. This has to change and the change must happen now, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
