Debates of May 19, 2011 (day 11)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members of this House may be aware of a recent national contest for project funding in which one of the winners was the NWT Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the NWT SPCA.

The SPCA received $300,000 from the Aviva Foundation and will use those funds to build an animal shelter in Yellowknife; a shelter which will provide services to all of the NWT.

The NWT SPCA is an organization run by volunteers. It works to provide homes for animals, to save and adopt out animals who are in distress, who have been left behind when their owners moved, or who are just no longer wanted.

Since November of last year, in just six months the NWT SPCA has sent over 90 dogs from the NWT and Nunavut to the South. This is a costly endeavour, anywhere from $40 to $400 to ship a dog to a new home or shelter in the South. The SPCA is only able to manage this expense through the terrific sponsorship provided by one of our northern airlines: First Air. With a shelter in Yellowknife, these shipping costs will be avoided or significantly reduced.

The NWT does not currently have any vet services outside of Yellowknife and it’s a need that must be recognized by this government. We do have some southern veterinarians who come north, but they work in only a few of our NWT communities. Regular preventative health checks, treatment for sick dogs, and spay and neuter services are badly needed in all of our communities, not just some.

During the public hearings for the recently enacted Dog Act, many presenters spoke of the need for vet services in the NWT, particularly spay and neuter programs. The NWT SPCA, if properly funded, can be the organization to deliver these programs for our government. I have little expectation that the 16th Assembly will provide any financial resources to this problem, given the economic squeeze the Finance Minister constantly reminds us of. The City of Yellowknife is doing its part by considering a reduction in the price of land for the new shelter and it may exempt the taxes on that property once the shelter is built. These contributions are from a municipal government supporting a territorial organization. What about our territorial government? Will it look favourably on a funding request from the NWT SPCA?

Given the demand that exists in all NWT communities, I hope that the next Assembly will consider veterinarian and shelter services a priority worthy of ongoing financial support.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.