Thank you. I will now allow Members of the committee of the whole to ask questions of Madame Thompson. The floor is now open to ask questions. Do we have questions? Mr. Roland.

Thank you. I would like to thank the honourable Minister Kakfwi for answering a question. I forgot to thank him. Thank you. Madame Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We have introduced community empowerment two years ago to all of the communities. All of the communities are now involved with community empowerment, whether it is community assessment, community planning or training. Some of the communities have taken on transfers. I believe there are over 250 transfers across the Northwest Territories.

I will be putting forward a report from the department in the next few weeks in regard to each community. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Madame Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We capped the water and sewage funding to the communities and worked with them on being more efficient in regard to water and sewage. We did have a lot of communities concerned over the new policy, but the department has been very successful in going to each community and talking and working with each community. I do not have the detail in front of me as to which communities did not do well with their allocated funding under this program. I have not had any communities that are in serious problems. We have been there to assist them with the new policy. Thank you.

Thank you. I have to remind Members because we are following the new. Each Member will be allowed four questions. Question number three, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Madame Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I can say I am satisfied with the assistance we are giving the communities. We have been there for them when they needed us in regard to this new policy. I know there have been major problems in Inuvik, and I know my staff have been working closely with the town of Inuvik in regard to this new policy. Across the board, my staff have been available to assist all the communities, and I have not had any major complaints coming forward that we have had to act upon immediately. We have been there on a regular basis to assist the communities to have a smooth transition from the old policy to the new policy. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Final question.

Thank you. Madam Minister.

Mr. Chairman. No. We are not.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to ask the Department of Community and Municipal Affairs a certain question. Mr. Chairman, is the department mandated to provide and initiate community empowerment? Could you please elaborate on where the initiative presently stands or any community accessing funds available to pursue this?

Thank you. Mr. Rabesca. Ms. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We have all our regional departments working with the communities, and there are funds available to start on their community planning, training and assessment needs. Funds are available for all the communities if they wish to hire someone to help them with their community empowerment initiatives. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Ms. Thompson. Mr. Rabesca.

How many communities across the territories have access to these funds or dollars available to them?

Thank you, Mr. Rabesca. Ms. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. All the communities can access this fund through their regional offices. To help them with their community empowerment initiative. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.