Debates of November 30, 2007 (day 6)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we talk about wilderness camps all the time for young offenders and for adult offenders and there’s always a request for funding. I would like to see this government maybe be proactive. The reason this came to light was a piece of correspondence that I received on an adventure camp initiative for young women. I think it’s an excellent idea and I think it’s something that we can expand on to go throughout the Northwest Territories. I would like to ask Minister McLeod, I believe is the Minister of Youth, I would like to ask Minister McLeod if there is anything within the youth mandate that would allow him to make contributions to the operation of youth camps. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for Youth, Mr. Michael McLeod.

Return To Question 81-16(1): Youth Leadership Adventure Camp

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have a budget under our youth portfolio for youth core programs. The criteria, this will be dollars that could be used for youth camps. We’ve funded, through our youth programs last year through the youth contribution and the Youth Corps Program, a total of, I believe it’s 55 different initiatives, and a good portion of those were youth camp-type workshops or on-the-land programs. So there are a number of ways we can provide for the youth to be on the land or be with the elders. The Department of Health, I believe, also has some Summer Camp Program dollars that they use. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Robert McLeod.

Supplementary To Question 81-16(1): Youth Leadership Adventure Camp

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and I thank the Minister for that informative answer. I’d like to ask the Minister, how many requests would his department receive in any given year, and are these from the wilderness camps for offenders or just youth camps in particular? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Robert McLeod. Mr. Michael McLeod.

Further Return To Question 81-16(1): Youth Leadership Adventure Camp

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would have to commit to coming back with that information. I know our programs are oversubscribed. We have, as I indicated, about 55 different initiatives and a great deal of them are geared towards youth at risk, and a lot of them are using it for different types of camps. We also have the Youth Abroad Program. We have the foster family coalition camp, and a sports and youth leadership conference, and youth forums and things of that nature, Mr. Speaker. However, I would have to commit to getting back with the number of applications that we receive overall. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Michael McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Robert McLeod.

Supplementary To Question 81-16(1): Youth Leadership Adventure Camp

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask the Minister if he gets communications from aboriginal groups, aboriginal governments about their desire to have youth camps in their region that are culturally based. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Robert McLeod. Mr. Michael McLeod.

Further Return To Question 81-16(1): Youth Leadership Adventure Camp

Mr. Speaker, the answer is yes. We’ve had requests and we’ve funded programs with the Inuvialuit and we’ve also worked with the Dehcho First Nations and others, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Michael McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Robert McLeod.

Supplementary To Question 81-16(1): Youth Leadership Adventure Camp

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It seems that a lot of money is going out to the youth camps and the youth. It is important because the youth are one of our best resources and anything we can invest in the youth, as long as Ottawa doesn’t take it away, will benefit the people in the Northwest Territories. I’d like to ask the Minister if he would also commit to contributing to the Children First Society of Inuvik in their desire to have their own standalone building for day care and other programs. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Robert McLeod. Mr. Michael McLeod.

Further Return To Question 81-16(1): Youth Leadership Adventure Camp

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We’d be glad to consider any applications that come forward from any of the communities across the Territories. Thank you.