Debates of October 28, 2004 (day 30)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, all too often I hear stories from my constituents about government contracts for work in the Sahtu being awarded to companies outside of the region, and about local people being turned down for government jobs. All too often, Mr. Speaker, I hear excuses from government, like they did not meet the educational requirements, did not meet our standards. These excuses tell me that the GNWT is not living up to the spirit of the Sahtu Land Claim Agreement and, in particular, the economic measures chapter.

There are many capable people and businesses in the Sahtu, and there are no excuses for them not to be getting government jobs and contracts. If the GNWT is really convinced that the Sahtu people and businesses are not up to their standards, Mr. Speaker, then what is the government doing to change this? The economic measures chapter mentions a lot of things that should be happening: training, assistance to develop commercially-viable businesses, encouragement of the employment of the Sahtu people, including employment in public services and public agencies. It also says the government shall -- shall, Mr. Speaker -- review job qualifications and recruitment procedures to remove any corporate requirements in respect of cultural factors, experiences and education. All these are written in the Sahtu Land Claim Agreement. For me and for the people of the Sahtu region, we like to think that means that they're as good as written in stone.

Mr. Speaker, the Sahtu Land Claim Agreement was signed in 1993. The government had 11 years to figure out how to live up to it’s economic measures obligations. It is time this happened. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Hear! Hear!

---Applause