Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Steen.
Debates of March 7th, 2002
This is page numbers 427 - 478 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 5th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was chairman.
Topics
Committee Motion 10-14(5): Funding And Program Delivery For Youth Programs (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 447
Committee Motion 10-14(5): Funding And Program Delivery For Youth Programs (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 447
Vince Steen Nunakput
Mr. Chairman, there were two options as to how we could attend the Arctic Winter Games, because it involved culture as well, so it also involved the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. Between my department and Education, Culture and Employment, we were reviewing the most economical way to attend the Games, cost-wise and time-wise. After all factors were taken into consideration, we decided on having an aircraft fly us directly to Iqaluit for the opening of the Games, rather than going there two or three days earlier on the sched. Since there is no sched anymore between Nuuk and Iqaluit, we were looking into chartering from Iqaluit to Nuuk, staying there two days, taking part in the cultural activities and the Games, and returning to Yellowknife from Nuuk.
It turns out that by using commercial aircraft, hotel rooms and everything, it would have been more expensive for us to go commercial than it was to use a private aircraft to Nuuk via Kangerlussuaq, because the aircraft cannot land in Nuuk and we have to take a smaller one from Kangerlussuaq to Nuuk. In the end, it is cheaper to use a private jet than it is to use commercial airlines.
Committee Motion 10-14(5): Funding And Program Delivery For Youth Programs (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 447
Committee Motion 10-14(5): Funding And Program Delivery For Youth Programs (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 447
Michael McLeod Deh Cho
Mr. Chairman, my question was who is going? Could he give me the names of the people going and what is the cost? What is the price tag?
Committee Motion 10-14(5): Funding And Program Delivery For Youth Programs (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 447
Committee Motion 10-14(5): Funding And Program Delivery For Youth Programs (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 447
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, that has not been finalized yet, but we are now reconsidering the route of the aircraft, which may not be directly back to Yellowknife but may in fact be passing by Inuvik, because of meeting commitments we have there. The whole thing is still up in the air with respect to price. As well, who is going to go and who is not going to go depends in the end on the decision of the two Ministers.
Committee Motion 10-14(5): Funding And Program Delivery For Youth Programs (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 448
Committee Motion 10-14(5): Funding And Program Delivery For Youth Programs (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 448
Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On page 4-37, I would like to continue the questioning Mr. Krutko started on recreation organization funding. Mr. Chairman, when Mr. Krutko expressed a problem that he has on the criteria used for funding communities, Mr. Murray responded by saying that this formula is new and this is the first time it has been introduced in the House in this manner. What formula was used in previous years? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Committee Motion 10-14(5): Funding And Program Delivery For Youth Programs (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 448
Committee Motion 10-14(5): Funding And Program Delivery For Youth Programs (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 448
Committee Motion 10-14(5): Funding And Program Delivery For Youth Programs (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 448
Committee Motion 10-14(5): Funding And Program Delivery For Youth Programs (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 448
Murray
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As I said, this particular funding to organizations, $1,125,000 is money that is in this budget for the first time. It is additional money that was approved through the business planning process to be included in the main estimates. It is the first time that this particular funding approach has been used to allocate the sports funding at this stage.
Committee Motion 10-14(5): Funding And Program Delivery For Youth Programs (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 448
Committee Motion 10-14(5): Funding And Program Delivery For Youth Programs (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 448
Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe
So the formula is the same, Mr. Chairman, it is just that the money is new money. Is that correct?
Committee Motion 10-14(5): Funding And Program Delivery For Youth Programs (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 448
Committee Motion 10-14(5): Funding And Program Delivery For Youth Programs (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 448
Murray
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The formula used to allocate this money is the same formula process, the same formula, if you will, that is used for the community governments generally in terms of allocating their O and M funding.
Committee Motion 10-14(5): Funding And Program Delivery For Youth Programs (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 448
Committee Motion 10-14(5): Funding And Program Delivery For Youth Programs (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 448
Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I too have a problem with the formula used based on population, cost of living, et cetera. I do not think that is truly reflective of the needs of the community. If you compare recreational issues, there is no difference between the size of communities. The needs are still the same. If that is not a realization that is known to the Minister already, then it should be. The needs are still the same and the formula should reflect the needs and not the population or the cost of living.
In the area of the cost of living, Mr. Chairman, I do have a problem with that. It is great that it is adjusted to the cost of living in the communities, but most of our communities do not have the resources in terms of the supplies that are needed. We all have to buy supplies and services from outside the community, which is an additional cost to the cost of living in the community already. Is the formula adjusted for that? I would first like to get an answer on the formula used to begin with, which I do not agree with. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Committee Motion 10-14(5): Funding And Program Delivery For Youth Programs (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 448
Committee Motion 10-14(5): Funding And Program Delivery For Youth Programs (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 448
Vince Steen Nunakput
Mr. Chairman, as the department indicated, this is a new program that we have come up and it is new funding. I am prepared to re-examine with the department and, if necessary, reallocate and change the allocations to reflect the wishes of the Members. Thank you.
Committee Motion 10-14(5): Funding And Program Delivery For Youth Programs (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 448
Committee Motion 10-14(5): Funding And Program Delivery For Youth Programs (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 448
Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. If that is the case, then the whole government has to change its ways. If we are going to change the formula used to fund community governments to deliver programs and services on behalf of the government, it should not be based on population. It should be based on need and the realties of those communities. Population base funding is something that we argue as a government to the federal government and how it is not fair.
It is the same thing we experience at the community level. It is just one step lower than the national level. At the territorial level, it is the same. This government should have a pretty good understanding of the needs of the communities when they use the same arguments that we use in the communities with the federal government. Formula based funding should be re-examined right across the board. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Committee Motion 10-14(5): Funding And Program Delivery For Youth Programs (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 448
Committee Motion 10-14(5): Funding And Program Delivery For Youth Programs (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 6th, 2002
Page 448
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I committed to reviewing the allocation of this particular program. However, I think the Member is referring to the process of using population figures as a way of arriving at a distribution of funds, I believe, government-wide. That is something that would have to be considered on a larger scale than just my department. I cannot commit to something like that, but I can definitely commit to reviewing this particular program as to how we can better accommodate the wishes of the Members. Thank you.
Committee Motion 10-14(5): Funding And Program Delivery For Youth Programs (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 448