Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. I will be talking to the budget. I noticed three years of drawing comparisons between large communities and small communities that there would be some shift of government resources on larger communities to small communities. Mr. Speaker, in reality, I am convinced that this government cannot or will not make that shift, at least not in a significant way. Mr. Speaker, three years ago I noticed a huge deficit in government infrastructure in and around small communities. This government responded, but compared to the big money being spent in large centres, there is still a lot needed in the small communities.
Mr. Speaker, I noticed small communities lack government staff and programs and services that they deliver. Mr. Speaker, there is a book called Where the Pavement Ends. This book, the writer writes about the plight of Aboriginal people in Canada, about the standard of living of Aboriginal people and how it compares to the rest of Canada. As I mentioned in this House in the past, Aboriginal people’s standard of living in Canada is about 70th in the world, while the rest of Canada has the fifth best standard of living in the world.
Mr. Speaker, the situation in the NWT is no different. In the small communities we have dusty roads, poor highways, low employment rates, poor health, poor housing and high addictions. Mr. Speaker, this government has, as all other governments, failed the Aboriginal people in small communities. This has, as all other governments, failed to see that in order for the situation to improve across the entire NWT, they must first strengthen the weakest links. By that I mean putting greater emphasis on helping small communities to prosper and start contributing to the overall economic health of the NWT.
Mr. Speaker, the Committee on the Sustainability of Rural and Remote Communities is a step in the right direction, but it is not enough. The results of spending are yet to have a positive impact on the small communities.
Mr. Speaker...
Mr. Beaulieu, your time for your Member’s statement has expired.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
Mr. Speaker, the employment program, trade spending, child funding, reduced power rates are all good, but we need environmental cleanups, infrastructure and housing projects in all of the small communities to make the situation better. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy.
