Debates of October 19, 2007 (day 2)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement today I talked about the concern that many NGOs have, which is about funding. Mr. Speaker, I also highlighted one of the NGOs here in Yellowknife, the Alison McAteer House, that probably could best be described as probably on life support right now when it comes to funding. Mr. Speaker, during the election of the Premier process, I mentioned I would push them hard on proper funding. So my question to the Premier here will be today, it is will he investigate this problem with NGO funding right away and will he take steps to ensure that the YWCA in Yellowknife, the Alison McAteer House, gets proper funding to make sure that they can keep those doors open for a women's shelter? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Premier, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 1-16(1): Resources For Non-Government Organizations

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the issue of NGOs has been raised in a number of governments and as a number of Members have raised during this process and as we begin our work as the government of the 16th Legislative Assembly, we will, indeed, take into consideration the manner and the way we work with NGOs. Ultimately -- and this is the beauty of our consensus system -- we'll need to work together to come up with the priorities we need to set as a government as we proceed forward. So NGOs will be a part of the mix in that effort to move forward. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 1-16(1): Resources For Non-Government Organizations

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the Premier's answer about NGOs will be part of the mix, but the fact is this organization is on life support right now. Their funding is dwindling; they're threatened with the fact, the reality, Mr. Speaker, that the doors will be shut pretty quick. So would the Premier start this session off, this Assembly off, by answering the question directly, which is will he investigate the funding at the Alison McAteer House to make sure that they can keep their doors open for women? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 1-16(1): Resources For Non-Government Organizations

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the fact is, the GNWT, as we have contracts and contribution agreements with every organization out there, there's annual funding put in place. Nobody is stopping that flow of funding to happen with the agreements that we do have in place, so we're going to continue to meet that commitment that is put in place. But as we establish, as I go through this work of establishing the portfolios with the different Ministers, those tasks will be looked at and working with Members of this House to come up with the appropriate balance.

The problem is, I've found in the past, when governments react to one specific situation without taking the whole picture into consideration, that's where we run into problems and that's why I'm committing to work with Members of this Assembly to come up with a package, an appropriate way to deal with NGOs across the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 1-16(1): Resources For Non-Government Organizations

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, we seem to avoid the…The question keeps getting asked and the answer keeps getting avoided. The fact is, the YWCA's Alison McAteer House -- I'll say it clearly -- has a real possibility of being shut down and it's not because the funding agreement is going to be pulled, the fact is the funding agreement is not set up in such a way to fund them properly. So what is this government going to do as of January to pick up the services offered by this closed women's shelter if something is doesn't immediately? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 1-16(1): Resources For Non-Government Organizations

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member is making it sound like we're going to have to deal with a closure. We're going to work to ensure that the services are there for individuals who are in need across the Northwest Territories. We have an arrangement with a number of organizations. This one, as the Member has raised, is something we will continue to work with and look at. As we have portfolios assigned, Ministers will be looking at the issues that come to their table, and, believe me, they're already there. As one Member said, it's been a while and it will be a number of weeks before our next sitting. The issues continue to grow out there and they will be dealt with and we will try to do our best as we proceed forward. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 1-16(1): Resources For Non-Government Organizations

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, I'll have to compliment the Premier. He did give us a little more there, which was work so that services are there. That's a little smidge of a step of a real answer, Mr. Speaker. So will the Premier ensure that under all possibilities, under any reasonable way, we will make sure that this facility does not have to shut their doors for women? Will he guarantee that? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 1-16(1): Resources For Non-Government Organizations

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as we talk about accountability and transparency for the government, we're going to set high standards. But those high standards also have to be met with organizations that receive funding. When they know budgets are planned at the beginning of the year, they're going to have to work within that environment as well as we have to work within ours. I commit, as Premier of the Northwest Territories of the 16th Assembly, as your Premier, I will work with you to make sure we come up with the best possible solution to ensure that those most in need in the Northwest Territories are taken care of. Thank you.

---Applause