Mr. Speaker, the 17th Legislative Assembly envisioned promotion of strong individuals, families and communities by developing a socially responsible and environmentally sustainable Economic Development Strategy. I look at the Economic Opportunities Strategy approach and wonder how we could possibly have left behind the people, families, social responsibilities and environment.
The strategy discussion paper is a partnership of the industry department, NWT Chamber of Commerce, Northern Aboriginal Business Association and the NWT Housing Corporation. Blatantly missing is the social and environmental expertise to back up an otherwise impressive panel, expertise that’s necessary to fill out our Caucus priority.
Shamefully, we in the NWT have the largest income gap in Canada: $185,000 a year between the richest and poorest 20 percent of households. Most current opportunities for wealth and employment are clustered in a few major centres, including remote mines that increasingly fly non-resident workers to and fro every two weeks. In some communities up to 50 percent of households have annual incomes below $30,000.
Proven research reveals the negative impacts of such unequal incomes on the health of society: as inequity increases, crime, substance abuse and poor economic performance that worsens. Sound familiar? Well, we had a wonderful opportunity to meet people’s concerns and recognize this situation in our consultation document. Sadly, we focused on industry and how to make even more big bucks. Rather, we want to help the economy that serves the needs of all our people, not just one that further enriches the already successful.
As with social responsibility, apparently we don’t need to design our economic strategy to serve environmental sustainability either. We’ll just tweak development permits, and even under the ever more dismantled environmental protection regime, presto, we’ll have an environmentally sustainable economy. I don’t think so.
Committee wanted and was promised input at the earliest stages of this undertaking. Without that, the Minister has forged ahead on an effort that will have little credibility and doesn’t meet our priorities.
I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
For the disadvantaged of Canada’s most inequitable society, this strategy will mean little. Its terms of reference are a business-as-usual approach by the usual businesses aimed at more of the same, no matter what priorities this Caucus said we should pursue. As some are saying, why don’t we just reprint the last one?
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.
