Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]
Mr. Speaker, yesterday I spoke about the impact the diamond mines have in my Tu Nedhe riding. One of the positive impacts is increased employment for Tu Nedhe residents. Though there are some opportunities for the diamond mines when you look the big picture, the community is very marginal.
Mr. Speaker, the reality is that a good majority of the residents who wish to remain and work in their communities are faced with bleak employment opportunities. I know that employment activity in the communities is a function of natural market and economic forces, but I believe the government has a role to play not only as a regulator but to facilitate and initiate employment opportunities.
Mr. Speaker, according to the most recent stats from the 2006 statistics, the employment rate in Lutselk’e is only 48 per cent, with a 30 per cent unemployment rate. In Fort Resolution the employment rate is a low 44 per cent, with a 24 per cent unemployment rate. By comparison, the employment rate for the NWT is 69 per cent, with a 10 per cent unemployment rate. As you can see, the unemployment rate is two and a half times as high in Fort Resolution, and in Lutselk’e it’s almost three times the rate of the NWT.
Education levels look to be a large factor if unemployment rates are examined further. Eighty-six per cent of the unemployed people in Lutselk’e and 50 per cent of those unemployed in Fort Resolution do not have high school diplomas. Currently in Fort Resolution and Lutselk’e, industry and local government are the two main agents providing employment. Perhaps the GNWT could play a bigger role in this area.
Later today I’ll have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment on career and employment development for Tu Nedhe communities.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy.
