Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a similar problem as Mr. Ootes brought up except it is a little closer to Yellowknife. I am talking about the community of Ndilo which is still not receiving funding for municipal services. It is not included in the capital funding process. It seems as though all the other departments are now recognizing Ndilo as a separate community and providing funding such as community wellness and all this other funding that has gone out in the past and is going out this year, except for funding for the capital process and for MACA funding for the community.
As I indicated last year, the Yellowknives' Dene First Nation has to make do with Detah's funding to run the gym and what not in Ndilo, as well as in Detah which is cutting down on the services they are able to provide. Funding is basically on an ad hoc basis. I am advised that there is a much better relationship as far as visits from MACA staff and the rest of this, and they are working much closer together.
As far as the funding for municipal services, there was a working committee put together some time ago, and they were apparently making considerable headway. In fact, there was a municipal agreement that was very close to being finalized between the band and the city of Yellowknife to get funding for Ndilo. Then the Twin Pines Hill situation arose where the city wanted to put an arena on top of Twin Pines Hill, and for one reason or another, it fell through. After that, the discussions came to an abrupt halt or came to a very different tone and nothing has materialized.
The assistant deputy minister said they are looking at the funding inequities between the communities. I am assuming this would also include an area where a community is not even being funded whatsoever. I would like to know if the Minister and the department can put these talks back on track and possibly to provide interim funding for Ndilo such as was mentioned would be available for Rae-Edzo. Thank you.