Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it may surprise the people to know that our Friendship Centres are a part of a network of 118 centres across Canada. We are represented in the North by the Northwest Territories for Nunavut Council of Friendship Centres, and initially by the National Association of Friendship Centres, or the NAFC.
Nationwide, friendship centres provide culturally enhanced programs and services to more than 780,000.00 Indigenous people in more than 100 communities, however, the door are open to everyone. Friendship centres provide critical social programs for the residents of our smaller communities. In Fort Providence, the Zhahti Koe Friendship Centre has been operating since 1983. Over the years, it has provided many essential programs. Currently, two youth workers run evening and weekend programs for the kids ages 6 to 14, a healthy children's worker supports mother, babies and preschool aged children. Two workers run the radio program, and the justice coordinator works for the NWT justice committees and income support and fine options clients.
Mr. Speaker, the Zhahti Koe Friendship Centre and the programs it delivers are not a luxury. Programs such as family life have helped many people in the community, and I worry about the people of my home town if the friendship centre has to close its doors. Unfortunately, because of federal funding delays and the lack of GNWT funding, this is a very real concern.
In September 2017, NAFC and Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada finalized the agreement for funding friendship centres. The release of funds has, however, been stalled, and this delay has put many centres in crisis including the one in Fort Providence. They have waited since the new fiscal year, April 2017, to receive their funding, and they are still waiting today. Unfortunately, the GNWT has proven unwilling so far to step in and help most of the federal funding, either in the short term or on an annual basis. The Northern Territories group of friendship centres met with the MLAs in Kam Lake last spring to seek support for a proposed core funding agreement for the NWT friendship centres. Cabinet did not support the idea. This year, the Zhahti Koe sought $31,250 in funding through the GNWT's NGOs stabilization fund. Mr. Speaker, this funding meant to assist non-government organizations with capacity development was turned down because the centre did not have its registry filings up-to-date. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Masi.
---Unanimous consent granted