FRANCAIS

February 22, 2001

Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Minister Eric Robinson has announced a review of the Northern Affairs Act to modernize it and enhance its ability to meet the needs of residents in Manitoba's northern and remote communities.

"The Northern Affairs Act has not been comprehensively reviewed since 1988," said Robinson. "By consulting with the Northern Association of Community Councils, elected councils and northern residents, it is our intention to modernize the act to ensure that it more effectively meets the needs of residents in northern and remote communities."

The review will provide the residents of northern communities with an opportunity to discuss local governance issues and bring the existing act in line with more recent legislation including the Municipal Act, which was revised in 1996. The review will be conducted by an independent facilitator in collaboration with the Northern Association of Community Councils (NACC) and in consultation with elected councils and community residents from 50 northern and remote communities under the jurisdiction of the department of Aboriginal and northern affairs.

The present Northern Affairs Act grants authority to the minister to exercise municipal powers in Northern Manitoba and provides a framework for communities to deliver local services, whether under authority delegated by the minister or as incorporated entities.

Commenting on the review, NACC president Joseph (Sonny) Klyne observed that it is timely and inclusive, providing an important opportunity for input from stakeholders. NACC, whose mandate is to represent the interests of northern communities within the jurisdiction of Aboriginal and Northern Affairs welcomes the review, said Klyne.

The review process will begin immediately with the circulation of a discussion workbook and questionnaire to community councils and residents. This will be followed by regional open forum discussions from which representatives will be selected to participate in subsequent focus groups on the findings of the review. Copies of the workbook and questionnaire will be available from any office of Aboriginal and Northern Affairs as well as all community council offices. The review is expected to be completed in the fall of 2002.

The jurisdiction of Manitoba Aboriginal and Northern Affairs, as defined within the present act, covers the unorganized territory within the province (approximately 80 per cent of the province), excepting First Nations, provincial forests and parks, and local government entities created under the Municipal Act or other legislation.

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