Jackie Jacobson

I won’t go after that last section. During the opening ceremonies, four Inuvialuit youth participated as part of the Indigenous Youth Gathering: Margaret Noksana, Sophie Steffure, Joshua Teddy, and Chad Larocque. Working through the territorial government and ITK, Peggy Jay and Mavis Jacobson are championing the Inuvialuit crafters and carpenters with a variety of products for sale at the Northern House and the Aboriginal Village in and downtown Vancouver, and the Visions of the North on February 23 to 28 at the Richmond O-Zone Live Site. Joining the three Inuvialuit visual artists are Joe...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I listened to the opening remarks of the Minister regarding healthy, educated people. It just brings back the students I have in Sachs Harbour that were failing, but it’s totally opposite of what I’m dealing with here.

MACA represents a total of 7 percent off the total budget, Mr. Chair. I’m happy to see the $400,000 of additional settlement maintainer positions in Ulukhaktok and Sachs Harbour. Those create jobs and I’m really thankful. In the long run it’s going to help this government in regard to cost savings for the generators and just the upkeep of our...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and myself are proud to acknowledge and congratulate the large contingent of Inuvialuit participation at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. Through the Government of the Northwest Territories, there are 16 Inuvialuit participating in a blanket toss, traditional Inuit games, performing arts, individual arts: Mr. Abel Tingmiak, Hans Lennie, Donald Kuptana, Kyle Kuptana, Noel Leigh Cockney, Kristin Green, Marion Toutuk Green, Vanessa Anikina, Mathew Anikina, James Williams, Karis Gruben, Dwayne Illasiak, Leanne Goose, Greg Nasogaluak and Mary...

Will this government explore all current technologies and the needs of the Government of the Northwest Territories to try to find ways for small and remote communities all across the Territories to assist and benefit, such as call centres instead of having to use the ones in the South?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today my questions are for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment. Our gold medalist there at the Olympics.

---Interjection

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my statement today is on economic development programs in Nunakput. In Nunakput communities every year we go through a huge time where youth have to leave the communities and go to places like Yellowknife or Inuvik. The primary reason this occurs is a lack of real jobs and opportunities for them in our home communities. This is a huge problem, Mr. Speaker. Our future, our communities are going to be a place where most of our people have holidays in the summer and where communities are empty of our youth.

The government needs to be active to assist...

Will the Minister commit to me today to work with me to see if we can put up a call centre or some sort of assistance with the territorial government and a pilot project in one of my communities that I represent?

Will this government place more attention and resources on small, remote communities regarding community-based economic development programs to assist small businesses? These resources should assist in areas such as providing community-based training and financial assistance.

This government should take full advantage of technologies to assist our community-based businesses and not send them to the South. We should look north.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Almost one year ago today several Members’ statements were dedicated to the high cost of foods in small, remote communities across the Territory. In Nunakput the highest cost of food then was the highest cost of food in the NWT. Earlier this week my colleagues were very passionately describing the seriousness of the situation in their communities.

This government calculates northern living allowance based on the location and the cost of living compared to the central communities such as Yellowknife. In addition, they fund various offices and programs based also on...