Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My statement today concerns a request from Fort Providence for the establishment of a community services board in that community. Mr. Speaker, it is the opinion of the Fort Providence leadership that a thorough review of the service delivery to Fort Providence in the areas of health, social services and education be undertaken in the community of Fort Providence.
The Government of the Northwest Territories currently delivers health and education services to Fort Providence through two regional administrative bodies based in Fort Simpson. The community of Fort Providence views the current arrangement as being impractical and ineffective. The net effect of a system that supposedly maximizes community input is actually the complete opposite. There is actually very little decision making on matters that concern Fort Providence residents the most. In fact, the regional bodies have little, if any, strategic influence and absolutely no operational input over their organization they supposedly direct, Mr. Speaker.
The regional bodies essentially act as a rubber stamp for bureaucratic decisions made in Fort Simpson and Yellowknife. Far too much power and discretion lies in the hands of the unaccountable CEOs. The community of Fort Providence believes that a properly constituted community services board could help resolve these issues.
Furthermore, Mr. Speaker, it should also be possible to undertake these changes in a way that does not effect the Government of the Northwest Territories fiscal constraints by combining the service delivery administrator funds at the local level and close attention to administrative overhead in Yellowknife, it will be possible to create a well-resourced and robust local administrative agency in Fort Providence that can deliver effective health and education services in addition to being accountable to both residents of Fort Providence and to the Government of the Northwest Territories Minister.
Mr. Speaker, community services boards are not appropriate for all northern communities. Some are too small, some are not interested. However, Fort Providence is a community of over 800 people with a capacity to undertake this challenge. Mr. Speaker, I believe this government should take a creative and open approach to making a community services board happen in Fort Providence. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
-- Applause