Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’m pleased to share with Members the infrastructure achievements of community governments in the Northwest Territories. Community governments are important partners for the Government of the Northwest Territories as we work towards achieving our goals of this Assembly.
Beginning in 2005 with the federal New Deal for Cities and Communities and then in 2007 with the GNWT’s New Deal for NWT Community Governments, community governments began receiving funding to invest in their own infrastructure priorities. While not all community governments have advanced at the same pace with this new funding, we have seen impressive results in many areas and we should all celebrate these success stories.
Community governments are now investing in core municipal infrastructure, including upgrades or construction of new roads, improvements to solid waste sites, and upgrades or construction of new office buildings and fire halls. Aklavik, Behchoko, Colville Lake, Fort Liard, Fort Providence and Kakisa are examples of community governments who have chosen to make their infrastructure investments in these areas to provide enhanced programs and services to their residents.
Using a wide range of infrastructure programs offered by the Government of Canada over the past five years, community governments have been able to invest heavily in water and sewer infrastructure,
solid waste sites and energy savings projects in community public buildings.
Most recently, nine of our community governments took advantage of Canada’s Infrastructure Stimulus Program by undertaking 10 different projects throughout the Northwest Territories, of which four are already completed.
Most of these community governments decided to join forces to leverage funding under the Building Canada Plan to upgrade water treatment facilities in order to meet the Canadian Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality. To the community governments of Fort Good Hope, Fort Liard, Fort Simpson, Inuvik, Jean Marie River, Lutselk’e, Trout Lake and Wrigley, I extend my congratulations on your success in this area and for improving the quality of drinking water for the residents in your communities.
I believe that it is important to also note that while our community governments are not only delivering on important infrastructure needs, they are doing so in an environmentally conscious manner. In Fort Good Hope, the community government decided on a high-efficiency heating system and building insulation package in their community office complex, and in Dettah the new community complex includes a high-efficiency wood pellet boiler.
Finally, I would like to highlight some of the projects community governments have completed to support health and well-being of their residents. In Tulita, the youth will now be able to swim in their above-ground pool. In Gameti, they are now enjoying their new recreation centre. In Enterprise, the new community centre has meeting rooms, recreational and fitness facilities, and many other features to keep the young and old busy 24 hours a day. In Paulatuk, the youth are enjoying their new youth centre. In Ulukhaktok, the residents are utilizing their community centre. Fort Providence and Fort Resolution chose to upgrade their arenas, while here in Yellowknife the soccer players and other users are enjoying the new fieldhouse.
We are very proud of the success that community governments are achieving as important infrastructure projects are completed. Municipal and Community Affairs will continue to support community governments as they address their priority needs and we look forward to continuing to work with community governments as they bring forward new projects that reflect the needs and priorities of residents.
Mr. Speaker, the funding that the Government of the Northwest Territories provides to community governments for their infrastructure priorities helps us achieve our vision for sustainable, safe and vibrant communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.
