Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. On April 1 of this year, with the exception of education, all GNWT government services for Lutselk’e were transferred from the South Slave to the North Slave region.

The community has been asking for this for some time, and now it has become a reality. The leadership feels this is a good opportunity to become more involved with respect to the delivery of GNWT services for the community residents.

In conjunction with this transfer, the leadership has taken a proactive approach with this issue and has been discussing the issue of implementing a community services board–type approach that would see the community assume full responsibility for the management and administration of some or all of the GNWT programs and services currently being managed by the GNWT. Doing so would allow for an improved community-based decision-making process that would enable the community to better manage the needs of its residents.

The administration model that the community is considering would be very similar to that of the current Tlicho Community Services Agency. The Tlicho Community Services Agency has been operating since 1997, so the model is already in place.

Lutselk’e is a community of 400 residents, not all of whom are band members. The only elected government is the Lutselk’e Dene Band, which is responsible for the delivery of many programs and services through contractual arrangements with the GNWT. The chief and council are also responsible for all of its band membership no matter where they reside. They’re also responsible for the management of all land resources within the traditional territory. In short, the Lutselk’e band is very busy and has wide-ranging government responsibilities.

With Lutselk’e being a community with only one governing body, the Lutselk’e Dene Band, and with the recent election of the new chief, former MLA Steve Nitah, and new council, the conditions and timing support the wishes of the leadership for the community to take advantage of this opportunity.

When the community wishes to take the next important step, there will be a transition period, a learning curve, that will present its own set of challenges for both the community and the GNWT. It is during this period that the community will need the support and assistance of this government to ensure a smooth and successful transition.

Mr.

Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to

conclude my statement.

Unanimous consent granted.