Some committee members observed that there has been growth in the number of active positions and correspondent funding for the communities of Fort Smith and Fort Simpson. No increases in active positions or funding was evident for Hay River, a community in the same region as Fort Smith, which is experiencing a greater demand for programs and services.
Committee members note that many departments have made changes to their organizational structure to prepare for program and service delivery functions in line with anticipated self-government agreements. The committee is concerned that there may be increased costs associated with any realignment of programs and services along self-government lines. Committee members remarked that these incremental costs associated with self-government are the responsibility of the federal government.
To his knowledge, the Minister assured that there is no regional reorganization planned or underway. In a subsequent letter to the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight, the Minister confirmed there is no government-wide undertaking to reorganize its regional structures in anticipation of self-government or any other development.