WHEREAS this government has developed a community empowerment initiative;
AND WHEREAS this initiative was developed in response to people's desire in communities for control over their affairs;
AND WHEREAS the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs initial consultation indicates that a number of community leaders are interested in more control over their affairs;
AND WHEREAS this government has committed to providing support and training to those communities that undertake community empowerment;
AND WHEREAS an independent review has been requested as to how the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs assesses and determines the financial health of communities, through their municipal reporting processes.
AND WHEREAS several communities have already taken over certain areas of control from the government of the Northwest Territories;
NOW THEREFORE I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Yellowknife North, that this Legislative Assembly expresses its support for peoples and communities, to have control over their own affairs;
AND FURTHER that transfer of responsibility occur to a community only when that community has clearly demonstrated the desire to take over greater responsibilities;
AND FURTHERMORE that the Executive Council ensure that the time frames identified for a community to assume greater control are realistic;
AND FURTHERMORE that the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs ensure that communities are provided with support and training necessary to enable them to take on additional governance responsibilities.