Debates of November 28, 2007 (day 4)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to speak in regards to a concern relating to capacity development in rural communities across the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, the NWT has community empowerment policies in regards to finding solutions to deal with the critical problem of attracting the resources we need to run programs and services under the New Deal for communities.

Mr. Speaker, today out in the rural communities, they face many challenges when it comes to capacity development required for self-sufficiency in our communities. More and more responsibilities are being downloaded onto the communities and requirement is more and more needed by way of adequate resources to develop these programs and services.

But yet, Mr. Speaker, very little is done by way of capacity development programs in aboriginal communities with aboriginal governments and within our regions to ensure that critical mass is addressed to maintain efficient, effective communities by way of community development programs. We have to observe what’s been done elsewhere.

Mr. Speaker, working with people that have already dealt with this fundamental challenge in effect of providing program service results in community capacity development, as an MLA who has been here for 12 years, this issue has always been a forefront of our questions in this House.

Mr. Speaker, there’s an institution in the Northwest Territories that has been in place for over 40 years. Mr. Speaker, I’m talking about the registered society more known as the Beavers organization or the volunteer foundation operation of Beavers foundation. Mr. Speaker, they have been working in our communities as volunteers to help with the housing challenges we face, assisting our district education councils in regards to helping us with the shortage in our schools, but, more importantly, working with communities to find the challenge of finding capacity.

Mr. Speaker, the foundation has a proven record in the Northwest Territories and in our communities. Communities have been able to take advantage of this organization to deal with the problem of critical mass in our communities and develop community capacity, working with a non-charitable organization who has proven that they can give us results and help communities deal with the stress of capacity development.

Mr. Speaker, I think it’s critical that this government considers working with charitable organizations such as the foundation that I mentioned.

Mr. Krutko, your time for your Member’s statement has expired.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, I believe that the Beavers foundation can help the Government of the Northwest Territories and our communities to ensure that we are able to deliver programs and services efficiently in all our communities by working with charitable organizations who can help with the challenge of community capacity development throughout the Northwest Territories.

With that, Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time I will be asking the Premier questions on this matter. Thank you.

---Applause