Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment. In my statement earlier today, I know the 17th Assembly Caucus clearly stated an emphasis on strong individuals, families and communities, and developing a socially responsible and environmentally sustainable Economic Development Strategy.
We know there are big challenges to achieve this and that expertise in all these areas is, obviously, required. How did the Minister set out to ensure the Economic Development Strategy meets the social and environment Caucus priorities, when the discussion paper itself is a sponsorship of business only, and no environmental or social expertise appears to be included? Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Ramsay.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Economic Opportunities Strategy focuses on growing the economy here in the Northwest Territories. At the same time, we have a parallel process with the Anti-Poverty Strategy that the government has initiated as well.
Our belief is that we can find a way forward with the economy and focus on economic opportunities in the various regions around the Northwest Territories, and that’s what this strategy is set up to do. Thank you.
The strategy discussion paper lists the reference materials that will be the basis of analysis; that’s industry profiles, regional economic profiles and a literature review of economic strategies. But where’s the social analysis and the environmental studies such as the need to control growth in greenhouse gasses, building a carbon-neutral economy?
Does the Minister really believe that the socially responsible and environmentally sustainable aspects of an Economic Development Strategy can happen without specific and thoughtful preparation and design in that work? Mahsi.
We have a number of folks involved in the Economic Opportunities Strategy, including the Northern Aboriginal Business Association, the NWT Chamber of Commerce, the NWT Association of Communities. We have an expert panel that’s set up, as well as the department. We’re not setting out to conduct this Economic Opportunities Strategy without talking to people. We’ve been out to a number of communities already. We’re looking for feedback from residents around the Northwest Territories.
I know the Member mentioned big business in his opening statement. This isn’t all about big business, Mr. Speaker, it’s about opportunities, especially in the smaller communities, if you look at the commercial fishing, agriculture, tourism, the traditional economy, as well, with trapping. We have to turn over every stone when it comes to finding opportunities out in the regions, and we have to find out what those obstacles are to get economic development happening in some of our small communities. Mr. Speaker, this is our effort to do that. Thank you.
Thanks for the Minister’s comments. I don’t disagree with much of that, but a quick look at the parameters of the discussion, the strengths will be examined. That’s mines, forests, airports, and connections and the like. No people there. The weaknesses are studied. That’s regulatory processes, roads, access to land. No human capacity there either. There are opportunities; for example, interest from foreign investors and, finally, threats…(inaudible)…threats to the business environment.
Again, where’s the environment, where are the people and where are the cost priorities? Mahsi.
The North has always been criticized for having too much red tape, government’s getting in the way of business. We believe that the regulatory regime that is in place is going to protect the environment. This is a stand-alone strategy. It focuses on growing the economy here in the Northwest Territories and we should let it do just that. Focus on economic development here in the NWT. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister seems to think that the environmentally sustainable aspects and social responsibility can just happen without being designed. I say that’s baloney. Ploughing forward with blinders on is not going to serve us. That’s an old method that’s been disproven. We need a comprehensive holistic approach here.
So I ask, how will the Minister move to correct these oversights, and if he doesn’t, why bother spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on this exercise when we’re coming up with more of the same? Mahsi.
I appreciate the Member’s concerns; however, I don’t share those concerns. I believe we can move forward with an Economic Opportunities Strategy that’s going to benefit every region across the Northwest Territories and find new ways for us to grow the economy, especially in the smaller communities, and that’s what we’re going to start out to do. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Member for Hay River North, Mr. Bouchard.
