Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Money ain’t for nothing, cheques for free. That’s according to Dire Straits. Whether it be those lyrics or the band’s name, Mr. Speaker, we’re all, indeed, in dire straits across the Northwest Territories when it comes to the cost of living.
All the great minds in the world should be able to come to the conclusion of why is the cost of living in the Northwest Territories so high. Some of the question my constituents are asking: When will we catch a break? When will the middleclass or the elders catch a break?
Well, Mr. Speaker, when one of the Members is planning to visit the Sahtu, here’s some of the food prices we pay. In Fort Good Hope two litres of milk costs $5.49, and it’s a little more in Tulita at $5.99, and in Norman Wells it’s $6.59. If you’re going to shop in Deline, a dozen eggs will cost you a little more than the Independent store at $3.99 a dozen in Yellowknife. If you’re going to go in the bush, you want some bannock. If you get a can of Klik, that will cost you $5.49. Right there you can see putting meat on the table in the Sahtu costs you a few more dollars than in the capital of Yellowknife.
What if you decide to live off the land and be a trapper? Well, it’s not an easy life, Mr. Speaker, but it’s a good life, especially when you have to go on the land and pay for gas, like in Colville Lake at $2.99 a litre. Perhaps we’ll see more people going back to the dog teams.
But there’s a catch. The barge didn’t make it up the Mackenzie, so food and other goods will have to be flown into the region, and further down the valley, extra costs will fall on consumers when they fly it in.
My colleague from Hay River, Mr. Bouchard, raised a good point about dredging the Hay River. Why aren’t we seeing NTCL barges bringing goods and supplies down the Mackenzie River in the spring when the river is running high, instead of waiting until the fall when the levels are so low?
High gas prices, low oil prices and inflated costs and climate change are putting extra pressure on our household budgets. Half the household earnings are spent on keeping the house warm.
When will we in the North, especially in the small communities, get a break?
I’ll have questions for the Minister. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
