Community financial services, budget summary, operations expense, total operations expense, $1,648,000. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I wonder if the Minister could indicate just the general overall view of the financial health of the communities. There has been a lot of discussion in the House about boards and the problems they are having with deficits. One of the examples that has been held up is the communities that seem to be running quite well, especially some of the larger ones that I am aware of, in places like Fort Providence, which probably has one of the best SAOs in the Northwest Territories. I wonder if the Minister could give us a sense of are they operating in the red or the black in terms of the financial health of the communities? Thank you.

Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will ask the deputy minister to give you an overall review of the positions of the municipalities across the Territories. Thank you.

The deputy minister, Mr. Murray.

Thank you, Mr. Murray. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Could the Minister indicate for tax-based versus non-tax-based, how the financial health looks? I was not quite sure if he did that when he gave the numbers. I know there are audited statements done every year. How are the larger communities doing as well, or was that included in the numbers? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Murray.

Thank you, Mr. Murray. Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to ask the Minister a question regarding the formula financing. I wanted to know if he could tell me how many communities have responded to this formula, and if they have, how many of them have expressed concern over how it will affect them over the next while?

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Minister.

I would just like to make a general response back to the Member. We have been to approximately 28 of the 32 communities in the Territories. I am aware of two communities that objected to the proposal. Those were Enterprise and Aklavik, who had stated they were concerned about the reduction in their funding. The Member is asking for specific numbers, so I will now turn the microphone over to Mr. Murray, the deputy minister.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Murray.

Thank you, Mr. Murray. Mr. McLeod.

My main concern has been, and I have heard it from other communities such as Kakisa, but my main concern is because Enterprise is going to take such a huge cut in their budgets over the next three years, I think the estimation was over $200,000 will be reduced, when you start calculating the minor capital, recreation and all these other things along with what their budget is going to be reduced by. I agree, the funding in that area is going to be small, but you have to factor in other dollars that they were getting that they will no longer receive.

Would the Minister be able to assure me that he will be monitoring at least the community of Enterprise? I can see them come upon real hard times. I want to be assured that there will be some safeguards in there.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would just like to go back on the record, when we did meet with the community of Enterprise, we did say that we will assist in monitoring the situation. We understand their concern and it was well taken. I also reassured the settlement council as late as last Friday that we will consult through the NWTAM to keep them informed of all transactions occurring as we move forward in this proposal. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Page 4-13, community financial services, budget summary, operations expense, total operations expense, $1,648,000.

Page 4-15, community financial services, grants and contributions, contributions, total contributions, $500,000. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just in the area of contributions and infrastructure contributions, to be specific, unallocated tax-based, cost-shared water sewer projects, $250,000. It is a new item. Can we get some information on that, please?