Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in a statement earlier this session, my colleague Mr. Bell mentioned how difficult it is at times for NGOs to access funding that is made available through federal programs. I would like to follow up with this statement because I have become aware of a federal program that is very difficult for groups to access funds from.
Mr. Speaker, the federal government has set aside $350 million to help healing groups across the country. Recently, we heard that 13 proposals for funding submitted by communities in Nunavut did not meet the guidelines set out by the Ottawa-based Aboriginal Healing Foundation. The foundation now says it will hire coordinators in each Nunavut region to assist those communities in accessing funds.
Mr. Speaker, although I know that some funding from the foundation has made it into the Northwest Territories, I wonder how many organizations in communities across the Northwest Territories have missed out. From what I understand, the application process is both lengthy and difficult to understand. This is a common concern with many government programs.
Most small organizations in northern communities will never be able to access the funding available in federal programs like this. As is the case with the Aboriginal Healing Foundation, the community groups rarely even know that the programs are available, and if they are informed, they often do not have the resources to successfully get through the frustrating application process.
Mr. Speaker, this program and the funding will soon sunset, probably without using all of the money that is available. Mr. Speaker, I believe there is a way in which our government should be assisting these small community organizations and helping to bring money to the North. In July of 1999 and again last April, I wrote to the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services suggesting that a staff position be identified to help non-government organizations. I suggested that this person could assist NGOs in identifying third-party funding and preparing proposals.
Mr. Speaker, I am still waiting for the government to act on this proposal. Minister Groenewegen replied last year saying that this would be considered by the social envelope and that I would be kept advised of any developments in this area. Mr. Speaker, that letter was dated May 17, 2000, nearly a year ago now.
We keep hearing about the fiscal challenges we face in trying to identify adequate funding to deal with social problems. Minister Groenewegen has said, for instance, there is not adequate funding to increase the numbers of social workers as quickly as we should. With help, Mr. Speaker, NGOs could access a lot more federal...