Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided]
...NWT where all the communities have employment rates below 40 percent. Tu Nedhe is one of them. The average employment rate in both communities of Tu Nedhe is 37 percent. Mr. Speaker, this government must clearly understand that setting goals to increasing employment rates in smaller communities will ultimately make the whole Territory more prosperous. As we know, the large communities in the NWT are functioning well, with employment rates at 65 to 80 percent.
Mr. Speaker, the small communities employment rates were at 50 to 60 percent. It would decrease the cost to the government on items such as income support, health care, home repairs, child protection and overall wellness of the people.
Mr. Speaker, this government must develop an action plan that increases employment rates in our smaller communities. In some of our larger communities, an average of four of five people over the age of 15 get up in the morning and go to a full-time job. This is very positive for the economy in those communities.
Mr. Speaker, in the small communities, we are lucky if one person in a household had a full-time job. Most of the employment numbers are made up of part-time, short-time and seasonal jobs. Even students have no work. Mr. Speaker, while the kids in the larger communities are working all summer for the government or private industry, kids in the small communities are walking about looking for opportunities and wondering why there are none available. Mr. Speaker, we all know too well that low employment rates in smaller communities such as Lutselk’e and Fort Resolution have a negative, rippling effect throughout the community, particularly with the family’s ability to make a living.
Mr. Speaker, according to the 2000 United Nations urban development report, Canada has the fifth best standard of living in the world. However, if you take only aboriginal people in Canada, the standard of living is equivalent to 69th in the world, which is right behind Peru, and that must change.
Mr. Speaker, today I’ll have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment on what has to be done or what should be done to address this serious issue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.
