Debates of March 10, 2009 (day 26)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is my pleasure to provide Members with information about the current status of the Community Capacity Building Fund. This program has supported innovative and diverse projects in all 33 communities in the Northwest Territories, providing benefits to all of our residents.

In July 2005 the Government of the Northwest Territories established the $35 million Community Capacity Building Fund from funding made available by the Government of Canada under the Northern Strategy. The Community Capacity Building Fund provided one-time funding to communities to assist them to advance their capacity building priorities and objectives. The Department of Municipal and Community Affairs has been administering this program since it was first implemented.

The program was designed with the goal to bring community governments and organizations together to collaborate, develop, and endorse projects that would benefit the community-at-large. I am very pleased to inform Members that this goal has been achieved.

Funding of $35 million has been provided to support a total of 247 projects across the Northwest Territories. The funded projects reflect a wide variety of community capacity building initiatives, including the expansion of community complexes or hamlet offices to include additional services and infrastructure support for various community groups; investment in housing projects for seniors, staff, and community residents; development of new or enhanced community facilities such as a community workshop, commercial cooking facility, and youth centre; training and succession planning for community staff; and infrastructure enhancements such as communication system upgrades.

Since this program was first implemented in July 2005, MACA has been administering the fund and over this period has worked with communities to address their community capacity needs. While some communities are still in the process of implementing their projects, many others have completed their projects with successful outcomes. Although the department’s administration of the Community Capacity Building Fund ends on March 31st, 2009, MACA continues to offer ongoing support to address capacity challenges. Communities face a variety of challenges and MACA supports capacity building to ensure that community governments are able to lead effectively to ensure responsive, resilient, vibrant, and sustainable communities.

I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating all communities who are working collaboratively to develop proposals to improve the quality of life for our residents.