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LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
Finance Minister Michael Miltenberger met with Fort Simpson residents Sept. 19 for one of seven budget talks being held across the territory this month.

Finance Minister Michael Miltenberger came to Fort Simpson Sept. 19 to discuss the territorial budget with residents in the region. - Miranda Scotland/NNSL photo

The minister asked participants for their help in identifying areas of the GNWT’s $1.4-billion budget, where funds could be saved and used elsewhere.

"Having this personal contact, getting out of Yellowknife I think is critical," Miltenberger said after the meeting. "There is great wisdom in crowds."

To get the conversation rolling, Lego blocks representing areas of the budget were set up along a table. Attendees were given a chance to remove up to 10 blocks – each worth approximately $50,000 – and transfer it to another area of the budget.

Some residents said instead of shifting money from one department to the other, the government should reduce program overlap and be more efficient.

"To me it would be easier to say cut every department by five per cent," said Fort Simpson Mayor Sean Whelly.

When the budget was released in May, Miltenberger emphasized the need for fiscal discipline and responsibility. Over the next two years, he said, the plan is for the GNWT to put major infrastructure spending on hold in order to replenish cash reserves.

Several themes emerged

During the three hour-long sessions last week several themes emerged, including prevention, regulatory reforms and infrastructure needs. Miltenberger said these same topics came up during discussions in Inuvik and Norman Wells and are likely to be brought up in Fort Smith, Hay River, Behchoko and Yellowknife.

The issue of red tape around regulatory reform will be solved with devolution, Miltenberger said.

"Once Northerners control the process it will be timely, thorough and effective," he said.

The village council also brought up a list of issues during the evening.

Sebastien Goyer, senior administrative officer, expressed dissatisfaction over the GNWT’s decision to cut water and sewer funding to municipalities this year after telling them to expect the same amount of funds as before.

"We're supposed to be partners," he told the minister. "You don’t pull a thing like that on your partner."

Meanwhile, Whelly talked about the need for a territorial youth strategy and a facility for young people in Fort Simpson. He also brought the issue of homelessness in the village to the minister’s attention.

It's not as visible in Fort Simpson compared to Yellowknife because people usually have family around who take them in for a few days now and then but it is still a problem, he said, adding it would help if there was a two- or three-bed facility in the village for people to go to.

The minister said a report would be made on the topics discussed throughout the sessions. The document will be sent to residents who wish to receive it and given to cabinet for review, he added, saying this wasn’t just a cosmetic exercise.

"I’m not here to waste their time and mine," Miltenberger said. "We’re going to come back next year and people can hold up the document and say you were here last time and we talked about this, what's happened in the meantime? And they should see things happening."

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