Mr. Chairman, the information that was received from the Minister in terms of other NGOs on behalf of the Northwest Territories, we have been trying to get some things happening in the Sahtu region. As you know, there is a huge population of aboriginal people in the Sahtu region. In terms of NGOs, according to the Minister’s information that we receive, there are no NGOs in the Sahtu region. There are NGOs across the North but in my region, when we want to get specific programs for our people in our communities, we are always told that there is no money or it is difficult, or whatever reasons. I guess I am making a point. According to the information that the Minister has given, there are 219 NGOs in Yellowknife itself; there are eight in Hay River; there is a list that goes on. There is nothing in the Sahtu region, unless the information is delayed or it could be outdated.

So these types of funding, like the Aboriginal Diabetes Strategy. I have been seeing in my communities that diabetes is increasing, but yet we still get the diabetes educator out of Inuvik on a rotating basis. I could be wrong again in terms of these types of programs. So these types of dollars that are there for what it is supposed to be intended for, it is getting watered down, in my eyes, and the Minister can correct me if she wants to, but the things that we want in our programs, we don’t seem to be getting because it is not going to where it is supposed to be going.

I don’t know if I am making sense, Mr. Chairman, but I am looking at these programs in terms of services for my people. Maybe 80 percent in the Sahtu are aboriginal people, First Nations people, so I guess that is where my bone of contention is; are the dollars getting to where they are supposed to. What you are saying is going across NGOs also, so I guess what I am asking for is making sure that these programs come to people in my region, such as the drug and alcohol training. We did have NGOs, but NGOs in my region were like orphans. So these young people, these people, instead of going into a band council contribution agreement, they opted to the territorial government because the

territorial government gives them training, travelling, all these things in terms of the wellness programs. When they tried to do that with the band contribution agreements, they weren’t getting anything; very little support. So that is why these workers decided to go into the territorial government workforce. So, I guess, making a long statement here, this funding that you get, Madam Minister, are they going to where they are supposed to be going? Show me some results. I guess I want to see the evidence. I’m not convinced. I’d like to see the evidence where it’s helping the people. I guess that’s what I’m looking for. Thank you, Mr. Chair.