I have another return to oral question, asked by Mr. Henry on October 10, 1996 on community empowerment.
Mr. Speaker, planning for community empowerment and transfer of authority for programs and services is proceeding, as I have outlined in this House.
These transfers will be achieved through Block Funding Agreements between our government and each individual community. These agreements will outline the results expected and the necessary reporting, monitoring and accountability requirements for the transfer programs and services.
Block Funding Agreements will also have a provision to permit changes to reflect any new or improved arrangements that become available as a result of the Municipal Financing Review.
Mr. Speaker, the Municipal Financing Review will deal with a number of broad and complex issues, such as taxation and revenue generation. These issues will require extensive consultation with communities, the NWT Association of Municipalities, the NWT Association of Municipal Administrators, and MLA's, and will take time. Therefore, we have set an outside date of April 1, 1998, for implementation of any new financial arrangements. It is possible we could complete consultations and make changes sooner, but this may be unlikely given the complexity of some of these issues.
The experience we gain with community empowerment transfers over the next year will, Mr. Speaker, assist the review of municipal financing. We will have first-hand knowledge of the kinds of accountability, monitoring, and flexibility communities and the GNWT both need.
Our review to streamline and improve municipal financing will proceed in parallel with Community Empowerment transfers. Community Empowerment Block Funding Agreements will be rolled into improved financing arrangements that are developed after full consultation with communities and MLA's.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.