Archive for month: December, 2015

The LMG is essentially two years ahead of its Management Action Plan (MAP), which gives everyone a little more breathing room

“It’s truly incredible the way that is has changed,” said John Alexander, the Director of Finance. “A lot of the credit needs to go to the directors.”

Financial troubles led to Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC) requiring a MAP. It laid out how the organization would address and improve the issues. It meant more paperwork, meetings, and monitoring.

“It’s a vicious cycle when you’re in it,” said Alexander. “But it’s like it’s almost a positive cycle when you get out of it.”

AANDC creates ratios to judge the financial health of organizations. The same ratios are used by banks, which contribute to risk ratings and interest rates.

After a downturn in these ratios, the LMG laid out ways it would improve. This really meant improving its financial standing, and its long-term sustainably.

“The actions were pretty basic,” said Alexander.

Deals were made with major creditors, departments were restructured, and people were laid off. It was difficult, but necessary.

The step after a MAP is “third party management.”

Under “third party management,” an accounting firm essentially takes control of all funded money. For Listuguj, that’s about 40 percent of its revenue, or nearly $20 million dollars.

“It’s an extra expense, without an extra solution,” said Alexander. “It’s just – we lose control.”

The plan was deliberately slow. It was expected to take three years. But, being ambitious and falling short would have reflected poorly, and would have potentially resulted in “third party management.” Instead, goals were realistic, and the LMG far exceeded the expectations, within only 18 months.

“The objective of your MAP are achieved,” wrote Jacques Giroux the Regional Director for Funding Services with AANDC, on November 19, in a letter to Chief and Council. “Therefore, the Department will no longer monitor the implementation of your MAP.”

What this really means is the LMG has restructured itself to be sustainable.

“It’s not a bandaid solution. It’s a permanent solution,” said Alexander. “Now we are able to grow in a more sustainable capacity.”

Alexander said the focus will turn to commercial reinvestment. Commercial operations have been generating profits for the community, as well as jobs. Several new ventures are being considered. But, Alexander said the they need to do the “due diligence up front,” which takes time.

“We are working on it,” he said. “We just need to be patient.”

Alexander said that reaching this point is the result of cooperation, and commitment throughout the organization.

“It was a tough path to get to – to be sustainable,” he said. “But the fact that we’re here now, and with the proper planning – this place has all the opportunity in the world.”

The annual Christmas decorations competition with Listuguj and Pointe-à-la-Croix is going on again this year. This will be the 12th year in a row that it has been held. And like everything by The Harmony Project, it is to “build up relations between native and non-native communities in the area,” said Pierre Vicaire, one of the co-coordinators.

A bus full of people from Listuguj take an evening to go select three winners from Pointe-à-la-Croix. They drive through the streets and look at how all the homes are decorated. People from Pointe-à-la-Croix do the same in Listuguj. Participation prizes will also be awarded this year.

People can only win once every three years, so everyone has a chance.

It’s just another small initiative in The Harmony Project’s overall goal.  

“It’s no different, Christmas here than it is anywhere else,” said Vicaire. “No matter if it’s here, or next door, or if it’s across the bridge, or if it’s anywhere – it’s Christmas. And at the base, that’s what we’re trying to promote.”

The Harmony Project has come a long way since it began as a way to figure out how to avoid the conflicts that were arising over a skatepark in Pointe-à-la-Croix.

“The history of our communities had it built – in their mind – that whenever our kids would go over there, it wasn’t for sharing, it was confrontation, right away,” Vicaire said.

He said it’s hard to recognize that environment today.

“There are so many positive things, or good stories, that have come out in the last 13 years.”

Through many activities and field trips, neighbours are given the opportunity to create fun memories early on.

“Keep your culture — keep your language, keep your schools, but it’s got to be based on giving yourselves some fair chances to share some fun time together,” Vicaire said.

A key focus is creating those relationships early. In fact, when kids strike up friendships, it helps mend relationships with parents, and even grandparents.

The Harmony Project has seen so many successes that work is being done to possibly make it national.

“If it can work here, we don’t see why it can’t work right across Canada,” Vicaire said.