It was also noted that government departments build forced-growth funding into their budgets and yet expect NGOs to make do with the same amount of money, and deliver the same level of programming, year after year.
Finally, committee heard many comments on the need to support frontline workers at the community level. We heard that these workers are doing an excellent job, but are hampered in some cases by inadequate funding, large caseloads and micromanagement from the department and regional authorities.
Non-Governmental Organization Funding
During the business plan review and following feedback received from the pre-budget consultations and other concerned constituents, the committee recommended that the Department of Health and Social Services issue a directive to the health and social service authorities on the use and preference for multi-year funding agreements with non-governmental organizations with proven track records.
The department did not commit to a directive, but did commit to advising the health and social services authorities that they can use multi-year funding arrangements where it is determined such an agreement is in the best interest of the authority and the service provider. In addition, Minister Miltenberger encouraged NGOs to work with their health and social services authority to enter into multi-year funding arrangements during the October session. Whether this will translate into concrete action on the part of the department and its authorities remains to be seen.
Multi-year funding agreements may be inconvenient for the health and social services authorities to administer and track; however, it is important to remember that the reasons for multi-year funding agreements are to provide financial stability to the non-governmental organizations that deliver services to the residents of the NWT on our behalf.
Within the context of a proper reporting and accountability structure, we should, as a government, be trying to make things as administratively easy for NGOs as possible.
The committee will be tracking the use of multi-year funding arrangements during the business planning process and will be expecting an increase in the number of such arrangements by September 2006.
Madam Chair, at this time I would like to ask that Mr. Bill Braden, Member for Great Slave, continue on with the report. Thank you.