Mahsi, Mr. Chairman. On behalf of the Standing Committee on Finance, I will be presenting our comments pertaining to Municipal and Community Affairs. For the past two years, the committee has recommended an improvement in community development activities including training for municipal councils and staff. The department has followed through on this recommendation. In particular, Members found the proposed training program for senior administrative officers to be a strong step in the right direction.
Financial Statements
The committee was concerned with the large number of communities whose financial positions have qualified auditors' statements. Almost half of all Northwest Territories communities have qualified statements. This seems to reflect a need for additional training and support for councils and their staff. Judging from the number of communities which have experienced financial difficulties, it is important that communities have financial statements which are unqualified and provide a fully accurate picture of their financial status.
As evidence of the additional support provided by the department, the committee will be looking for a significant decrease in the number of qualified statements during its review of the 1996-97 main estimates.
Sport And Recreation
In this budget, Mr. Chairman, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs is providing strong initiatives in recreation facilities and leadership development. Recreational facilities and programs provide a healthy alternative for youth and adults. Committee Members agree that investment in recreation is an investment in community residents.
The events surrounding the site selection process for the 1998 Arctic Winter Games was seen by many as an unmitigated disaster. First, it appeared that Inuvik was the only community bidding for the games. Then, when it became apparent that Yellowknife was also bidding, the government apparently gave mixed signals as to where its support lay. Finally, when Yellowknife was awarded the games, the events following that announcement cast aspersions on the department's credibility and integrity. The new Minister and the department must review the many mistakes made in handling this situation, and work with the International Arctic Winter Games Committee to restore the credibility of the games and the organizing body.
Committee Members would also like to see an increased focus on support for sporting competitions such as regional winter games, aboriginal games, and so on. While the Arctic Winter Games provide an opportunity for many of the Northwest Territories' best athletes to compete against other Arctic athletes, there are other territorial, national and international events, such as the North American Aboriginal Games, which should also receive support. These other events are also opportunities for territorial athletes to get together with other athletes, to learn from each other, and to enjoy the spirit of friendly competition.
Fire Prevention And Education
Mr. Chairman, committee Members continue to see the need for additional fire prevention and education. The committee has recommended that this department continue to work with the Department of Safety and Public Services to ensure communities are adequately prepared to deal with community firefighting and prevention.
Water Safety And Search And Rescue
The Northwest Territories continues to have a high level of drowning fatalities. In many cases, these deaths are the result of people not using basic safety equipment, such as life jackets in boats. The committee shares the concern of the Minister regarding the needless loss of life and supports the department's efforts to increase public awareness of the need for safe practices around water. Also, the committee noted that sport and recreation has an important role to play in the issue of water safety. Where possible, the department should ensure that swimming pools, swimming instruction, and water safety instruction are available in all northern communities.
There are also high costs, both in dollars and in human lives, as a result of difficulties with search and rescue in our vast territory. People need to be more aware of the benefits of carrying basic survival equipment when leaving our communities, either by land or by water. The committee also encourages the department to work with other departments to address the need for more northerners to travel with safety equipment, such as GPS receivers or emergency locater transmitters (ELTs). Specifically, committee Members encourage the department to work with hunters' and trappers' associations and the Department of Renewable Resources to allow traditional harvesters to borrow such equipment when necessary. These departments should also work with traditional harvesters to provide continuing education about the land; how to survive emergencies, and how to prepare for an extended trip on the land. These traditional skills are not always taught in extended families as they were in the past, and should be encouraged.
Finally, Mr. Chairman, the government must cooperate with the federal government in the area of marine safety. The recent tragedy on Frobisher Bay is a reminder that marine safety is of critical importance to many northerners. The federal government has to live up to their responsibility to enforce boating safety regulations, including regular inspections of larger vessels, and the territorial government must do everything possible to persuade the federal government to live up to that responsibility.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That concludes the comments of the Standing Committee on Finance.