Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman perhaps it would be helpful if I could just explain the approach that is being taken with communities. We are really discouraging any of the departments to go out and flog their programs. That is not what community empowerment is about. We are taking a developmental approach with communities whereby we want them to think about what kind of community to have in the future. We do that through the community-based planning process. Through that process, communities identify what is working and not working in their community in the views of the residents. If the community identifies it would be of benefit to them to have more control, management over a certain function that is currently being dealt with by the GNWT, then we facilitate discussions between that department and the community on how that could be achieved. Transfer is not the only way. Sometimes just an improved community participation in a process is sufficient to give the community a sense that they are controlling what is happening in that area. So just to correct the perception that any of the departments are going out, asking communities if they would like to take on this or that, that is not what the approach is all about. It is very much based on communities coming up with a plan for their future that reflects their needs and their priorities and the government working with the communities to help realize that. Thank you.
Mrs. Ballantyne on Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
In the Legislative Assembly on March 1st, 1997. See this statement in context.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 28th, 1997
Page 1001
Ballantyne
See context to find out what was said next.