Bob Bromley

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s unusual, I know, to recognize a table officer, but I’d like to. I know everybody will join me in recognizing my constituent, the wonderful Mr. Tony Whitford.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to table the following document, entitled “Average Household Income by Lowest and Highest Income Group, Canada, Provinces and Territories, 2009.” Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess, just briefly, I would be interested to learn what possibilities there are for support from the federal government to deal with these issues based on the Minister’s visit. Thank you.

I appreciate that all those discussions are being had and are ongoing but, obviously, the need is only growing, so we really want on-the-ground actions. I guess my next question will be when can we see recommendations coming forward that we can actually get going on the ground. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My final question for the Premier is: The request for an Anti-Poverty Strategy calls for its creation through a broad process involving businesses, communities, organizations, labour, and people living in poverty. Will the Premier commit to just such a process? Thank you.

Thank you for that response from the Premier. I think it’s well known that this government is spending a lot on these issues and particularly in the area of housing. That’s certainly got a lot of national attention lately. Yet, clearly, the income disparity increases. The number of people living in poverty, that proportion of their income doesn’t change and gradually worsens, relative to our high income people. There is still some work to be done and I think that’s what we’re all about today.

Many other Canadian jurisdictions have pursued the approach of anti-poverty strategies. Their...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize a number of people in the gallery today. Suzette Montreuil from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Mackenzie-Fort Smith is here; Lorraine Hewlett, chair of the Public Service Alliance of Canada and the Regional Women’s Committee; Julie Green, director of community relations, YWCA Yellowknife; Aggie Brockman from Alternatives North; Arlene Hache, executive director, Centre for Northern Families; Dayle Hernblad, Yellowknife Homelessness Coalition; Katie Randall, Valerie Miyok, Jeremy Flatt, and Amanda Mallon, board members of the NWT Literacy Council...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Later today I will be tabling information on the gap in household incomes in the Northwest Territories. The information is startling. It shows that the average annual household income of the bottom 20 percent of NWT earners is just $16,000, with the highest 20 percent of earners’ annual household income is $206,000. That is a gap of $189,000, the highest spread between wealthy and poor in all of Canada. The wealthiest 20 percent of NWT families make 13 times as much a year as the poorest 20 percent of families, on average. The disparity is growing.

Recent reports from...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to speak in support of the motion before us today. I want to start by just noting that a revved up and healthy economy does not equate directly to reducing poverty unless there is a clear strategy in place to ensure that benefits and opportunities trickle through to all people that need it. Again, we can have a revved up economy, we have had a revved up economy, and yet we are still struggling with these issues.

We are looking today for a clear commitment to put together a strategy to address that. The income gap is growing. The disparity is growing steadily and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to present a petition dealing with the matter of creating an Anti-Poverty Strategy for the Northwest Territories.

The petition contains 309 signatures of Northwest Territories residents. The petitioners request that the Government of the Northwest Territories get to work immediately on creating an Anti-Poverty Strategy for the Northwest Territories and that the government work collaboratively with community groups, labour, business and others who want to eliminate poverty in the Northwest Territories. Mahsi.