Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Monday, July 23, 2007

HAY RIVER - The minister of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA) will decide how to spend shares of the Community Capacity Building Fund in two communities.

Early this month, Michael McLeod wrote various political groups in Hay River and Fort Resolution to request they separately submit proposals to his department by July 20.

"He, in consultation with his cabinet colleagues, will make decisions about the funding," said deputy minister Debbie DeLancey.

The final deadline was June 30 for the community groups to jointly submit proposals.

Only Hay River and Fort Resolution missed the deadline.

DeLancey said there is no deadline for McLeod to make his decision, although she added, "I know he'd like to move forward as quickly as possible."

Hay River's town council, Metis Council and West Point First Nation thought they had a deal in February on spending the community's $1.9 million share of the fund.

The deal was not accepted by MACA because West Point was in the midst of a leadership dispute and the agreement was signed by a chief not recognized by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.

Mayor John Pollard said the municipal government is sticking with that agreement.

"We submitted the same thing we submitted before to the minister," Pollard said.

The mayor said the deal was reached in good faith.

"We believe that's the agreement he should follow," Pollard said.

The proposal calls for spending to repair or rebuild the town/fire hall, improve the West Point Band office, improve the Aboriginal Centre, and refurbish playgrounds and parks.

In Fort Resolution, Deninoo Community Council, Deninu Ku'e First Nation and the Metis Council agreed to spend $411,000 for a youth centre, and that project was approved by MACA.

However, there is no unanimous agreement on how to spend the remainder of Fort Resolution's $791,000 share of the fund.

Tausia Lal, the senior administrative officer with the Deninoo Community Council, said the council and DKFN have jointly submitted a proposal calling for renovations to St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, renovations to the interior of the arena, and upgrading of the community cemetery.

Lal said she is disappointed all three groups in Fort Resolution could not agree.

"I think organizations need different things and have different visions," she said. "I'm sure every project is important to each organization."

DeLancey noted political groups in 31 communities agreed on joint proposals.

One of the goals of the fund, established in 2005, was to encourage the various groups to work together.

The initial deadline was Nov. 1, 2006. That was extended to March 31 and again extended to June 30.