Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the Member staying off youth and moving on to this one. I will commit to

Ms. Bisaro that I will have a discussion with my colleagues as to why we have three different pots. If we can pool them into one, then I will commit to Ms. Bisaro that is something we will do before the next budget cycle.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Page 6-14, Municipal and Community Affairs, activity summary, directorate, grants, $168,000, contributions, $470,000, total grants and contributions, $638,000. Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Something I didn’t get an answer on and I was sort of looking for some detail – yes, I can go to the website to find out who sits there, assuming it’s current – what are voting rights when the deputy minister was speaking to that? Maybe if you could help explain what those privileges do from a departmental point of view.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. For that we’ll go to Mr. Williams.

Then it sounds like it operates like a normal board. By the same token, do certain representatives not have voting rights? I find it odd that you’d point it out, and why would people not have voting rights?

Under this activity it’s a bulk number of $470,000. I’m wondering what the actual breakout is between the three activities. Are there multiple activities that may not even be seen under this area? Can I get a breakout as to what the funding contribution goes to? In other words, community association gets what, government administrators get what, et cetera?

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. For that we’ll go to Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It will be my pleasure. The NWT Association of Communities gets $240,000. Local Government Administrators of the Northwest

Territories get $180,000. Arctic Energy Alliance gets $50,000.

Although we’re still under the directorate, and I harken back without going to the page that is under the direct to be description, we have strategic planning and policy support. When I draw that to our attention here, do we use our support mechanisms to develop policy or policy initiatives, in relation to direction given to Arctic Energy Alliance?

No, not for the Arctic Energy Alliance.

Then what role does MACA actually play other than a contributor of financial resources to the Arctic Energy Alliance? What do they actually contribute to the board? Obviously, other than its physical membership, does the department itself provide any support or mechanisms and, as such, why are they on the board if they’re not providing any strategic advice or policy or direction for initiatives?

MACA sits as a very active member on the board. As our deputy has pointed out, he sits as the vice-president. We’re a very active member.

How does the Arctic Energy Alliance move… Well, let me ask it this way. Does MACA, as a department, propose any policy initiatives that are taken up or dealt with at the Arctic Energy Alliance board?

We always act in the best interest of community governments.

I’m not sure what that actually meant but I will assume that means something, but it didn’t answer my question. Does MACA provide any policy direction or make proposals from the departmental point of view at the board level of the Arctic Energy Alliance and, if so, what kind of examples?

Not currently, and we’re not sure of things that have gone on in the past before. Our deputy became vice-chair. I guess the answer would be I just don’t know.

I’m just trying to understand why we have a departmental head on the board and what relationship it has with the department other than being a funding source. If the government sat on every board we were a funding source for, we would be on the Centre for Northern Families, we’d be on the John Howard Society, we’d be on all these boards. I’m just trying to understand the role. Maybe if the Minister could provide a better description as to why MACA… I think this is a fair question probably for every department, it’s just one that has popped up as the obvious for this department, is what role does MACA itself play on the Arctic Energy Alliance board. I’m just trying to

get a sense of what value they bring. If you’re not bringing policy advice and strategic resources from the department, and this is not any criticism towards the activity and energy that the deputy brings, I’m just trying to understand the role of MACA, why the MACA hat is there at the table.

MACA plays a valuable role on the board and our deputy takes part in a lot of the discussions that go on there as to what type of programs they should be looking at. We play a valuable role on the board. We’re not just a financial contributor. I can gather more information and do a little bit of research, and I’ll be happy to sit down with the Member and share my findings with him.

I’d be happy to accept the Minister’s offer if he wants to make it official.

I’ve already committed to sitting down with the Member and having a very good, frank discussion on the role that we play in the Arctic Energy Alliance and any other part of MACA department. I’ll be more than happy to sit with the Member and we can have a good discussion.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Page 6-14, Municipal and Community Affairs, activity summary, directorate, grants and contributions, grants, $168,000, contributions, $470,000, total grants and contributions, $638,000.