Debates of May 11, 2007 (day 5)

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question today is for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. McLeod, since he sat there quietly. Mr. Speaker, the capacity building fund initiative undertaken by the GNWT, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, was a great investment for 33 communities. Over 90 percent of the fund has been dispersed to date. However, Mr. Speaker, the community of Behchoko is still awaiting their share of the pie. What is the current stage with respect to the capacity building fund with the community of Behchoko? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. McLeod.

Return To Question 63-15(6): Community Capacity Building Fund

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the community capacity building fund is an initiative to provide some resources to the communities to work on projects that the community feels is in their best interest. There is very little criteria that was established around this fund. It was one that would be a fund that would benefit the community. It had to be demonstrated. The other one was to have all the community government organizations sign on to the application. So far, we have not received an application that has both signatures from Behchoko yet. We have had some discussions with the leadership of that community. There is, I think, five communities left that haven’t received their fund. Some communities have requested that we extend the time to give them a little more time. So we extended the deadline to the end of June, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Supplementary To Question 63-15(6): Community Capacity Building Fund

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there is a hold-up on the funds that was supposed to flow to the community of Behchoko. Some disputes between Behchoko community government and the MACA department less of governing bodies entitled to the said fund, the capacity building fund. Mr. Speaker, can the department outline who is eligible in the community of Behchoko to access this fund?

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 63-15(6): Community Capacity Building Fund

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Access to this fund is not spelled out in the directive. It is intended to benefit any community projects or organizations for that matter, Mr. Speaker. I think the problem that we are having here is who is required to sign off on the project. The signatures are required. In the case of Behchoko, it is the Behchoko government and also the Metis Local for that community and also the MLA for that riding. Those are the signatures that we require. So far, we have not had a proposal from the community with both those signatures on there. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Supplementary To Question 63-15(6): Community Capacity Building Fund

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there was a list that went around the organization, municipality, the list of organizations, association and agencies. The Department of MACA is going by the dates dating back to 1998. That is prior to the Tlicho Agreement that was signed in 2005, the new agreement as an agreement that was signed by this GNWT will full respect. As you can see, it outlines in this agreement one governing body in Behchoko. Why doesn’t this GNWT, the Department of MACA, respect and honour the agreement and acknowledge that there is only one governing body in Behchoko and that serves the whole community of Behchoko, a Behchoko community government? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 63-15(6): Community Capacity Building Fund

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. By no means are we trying to insinuate that the community government of Behchoko doesn’t serve its residents. Mr. Speaker, this agreement or document was signed prior to the Tlicho Government coming into power. It requires us to have the community governments that are in the community and I have laid it out which ones were there and had to sign on, and it also involves the Metis local which still has members and serves their members. It would be really unfair for us to remove them at this point, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Supplementary To Question 63-15(6): Community Capacity Building Fund

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when we did sign the Tlicho Agreement, it was a clean slate in 2005. The new government that came into play, the GNWT was supposed to be working with. The proposed investment for this particular capacity building fund, the majority of the fund was supposed to go to the sportsplex in the community of Behchoko. It has been a long time coming, Mr. Speaker. The youth in the community are anxiously waiting for this to happen. Let them see the light and move forward. Will the Minister go ahead and disperse the fund to the community of Behchoko government where all community members, organizations, associations, agencies, will truly benefit as a community? Let’s do the right thing and move on. Let’s not wait. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 63-15(6): Community Capacity Building Fund

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is our intention, Mr. Speaker, it is to do the right thing and serve all the communities in a fair manner. Excluding one group at this point that still has a recognition and good standing would be unfair, Mr. Speaker. We are waiting for a submission that would come from the community with both signatures on it. We will wait. We have extended the deadline until the end of June. Failing to have an agreement at that point, we will take the next steps and call on the communities to come forward with individual proposals, then we will make the decision. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.