Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I still have a number of concerns about the recent reorganization of the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. This is a department which had a long-standing reputation as a department which gets things done. Communities of all sizes in the Northwest Territories, from Yellowknife down to the smallest settlements, are regularly impressed by the way this government department works with them to help them solve their problems. But, I don't think any of them expected the events of this summer.
Almost immediately after a new deputy minister was appointed, a dramatic restructuring of the department took place. Now, if there had been recent problems with the department, such a shake up wouldn't be a surprise, or if we had some suggestion from the Minister that some reorganization might take place to improve the department's effectiveness and efficiency, then it wouldn't have been a surprise. But, this restructuring came out of the blue.
Communities and departmental staff and Members of this House had no idea what was coming. Very little, if any, consultation took place. And now the Northwest Territories municipalities are concerned about the affect this restructuring will have on their relationship with the department.
Madam Speaker, I appreciate the briefing provided by the Minister to Members explaining the reasons behind these changes, however, I'm still not satisfied with the explanation given. I feel there are still some legitimate concerns which have not yet been addressed and I will be raising these concerns later on during question period. Thank you.