Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Over two years ago, as Members reviewed the 2012-13 capital budget, we debated a $1 million infrastructure contribution to an NGO. As part of the capital budget, Cabinet had proposed this considerable contribution to the Children First Society in Inuvik for a new early childhood care centre. I opposed that project, not because I did not see value in the project, and not because I disagreed with the intent of the building. No, I opposed approving the funding because it was a one-of-a-kind budget item and there was no government policy to guide how this type of contribution should be made. On what grounds and under what circumstances would it be made?
The government had never before made a cash contribution to a non-government construction project. I want to make it very clear that I have no problem with this NGO receiving these funds. In my mind, this is exactly the kind of project that deserves funding from our government. The Children First Centre had the support of the entire community. Both financial and personal resources were put behind this project. The society had already raised over 80 percent of the funds needed for construction, proving what a viable project this was.
Where I had problems was with the process, or rather, lack of process. There was no call for proposals for this million dollars. The decision to include it in the capital budget was made by Cabinet alone. There was no policy in place to guide the awarding of funds to an NGO construction project.
There are a great many NGOs in our territory who would love to get a million dollars to help them build their infrastructure, but since last year, the Standing Committee on Social Programs has tried several times to get the government to develop and put in place a policy to govern infrastructure contributions to NGOs. To date, there’s been no commitment from government. We’ve heard a number of reasons why it can’t be done, why it’s been sloughed off: my department doesn’t need one; that was a unique project, one-time request; it won’t happen again. Those reasons are invalid, but precedent has now been set. As it stands right now, any NWT NGO with a construction project can apply to the government for a bunch of cash through their MLA. We need to develop a policy for use for the next request. Government is accountable to the public for the effective management of all public resources including that provided to NGOs.
I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
We need to not only be fair but be seen to be fair. Cabinet must develop a policy and criteria for that policy. In order to qualify for funding, organizations must meet that criteria. Right now, in the absence of any policy and criteria, decisions to fund or not to fund are highly subjective and politically influenced. That is not fair to our hard working NGOs, nor is it fair to our residents who benefit from the NGO’s hard work.
I will have questions for the Premier at a later time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Moses.
