Mahsi. Mr. Speaker. Small communities sometimes are drive-by communities. We drive by, and we see a small community, and we just drive by. One particular community is Enterprise, located within my riding. It is in the Deh Cho riding, but it also has access to the jurisdiction of the South Slave district offices. However, my questions today are for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Can the Minister explain how Enterprise is involved in discussions at a territorial level about initiatives and activities that have an impact on the community? Mahsi.
Masi. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, because it is within the municipality of Enterprise, they would be a full participant in any discussions that take place with regards to any type of development or initiatives that might be happening in the community of Enterprise. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Maybe later on I will ask the Minister in terms of what he meant by full partnership. He said partners. As we all know, here in the NWT the traditional economy has been hunting, fishing, and trapping. What do residents of Enterprise need to do in order to access GNWT programs that are frequently offered through local Aboriginal governments and organizations such as the Community Harvester Assistance Program or Community Wellness funding?
Mr. Speaker, I will have to have that discussion with the appropriate departments as to what the community of Enterprise has to do. I could talk at length about what the community of Enterprise has to do to access a lot of the MACA programs and assistance of the MACA staff? As far as what they have to do to access the other programs, I will have to have that conversation with the appropriate departments.
I would like to thank the Minister for his reply. Here in the NWT, we promote the day of natural resource development. If that happens, we are quite fortunate especially if you are a neighbouring community, you have access to jobs that are fairly limited, and business opportunities, to ensure that the community grows. Plus, we also have the expectation that we are trying to balance economic and social impacts. Is the Minister aware of any effort being made to help the people of Enterprise benefit from the proposed pellet mill especially in terms of jobs and other economic opportunities?
Mr. Speaker, as far as jobs go, that is something that they would have to take up with the proponent. I do know that we have been engaged with the proponent since about 2011. We have supported both the hamlet and the proponent on their land application. We assisted the hamlet with their land acquisitions by-law, and we also worked with the hamlet to determine the fair value for land sale, and we participated in a number of meetings with the hamlet council. There are some opportunities there when the pellet mill goes into Enterprise. There will be, obviously, some revenue for that that the community can take full advantage of. There are some opportunities there. As far as the jobs go, that would be a discussion that they would have to take up with the proponents themselves.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Would the Minister agree to meet with the mayor of Enterprise and visit the community the next time he is in the area on official business to explain his explanation that they are full partners in terms of any initiatives that are perhaps in their neighbouring community? Mahsi.
Masi. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.
Mr. Speaker, I would be glad to meet with any community government across the Northwest Territories. We have a good working relationship with the NWT Association of Communities. They understand that anything that happens within their communities ultimately they have control over, so they are more than full partners. I will agree to meet with mayor and council next time the Member invites us to his riding. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.
