Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I had an opportunity to take part in the power rate conference here in Yellowknife a couple of weeks ago. It was a real eye opener in regards to the number of people in the Northwest Territories that are living in poverty, regardless if it is economic, social or simply reacting to the cost of living.
Surprisingly, Mr. Speaker, almost 45 percent in my communities of Aklavik and Fort McPherson live with an income of under $30,000 a year. That is the majority. Forty-five percent of households in my riding have to maintain themselves with $30,000 or less. But yet, Mr. Speaker, in the larger centre, 50 percent of the households make over $100,000 a year in regards to take home income. I think, Mr. Speaker, that clearly shows us that we have to make more economic investments in communities to bring the cost of living up to a level with the other communities, but, more importantly, stimulate those communities, make them communities that are self-reliant. More importantly, give the people in our communities an opportunity to work.
Mr. Speaker, in Fort McPherson I have some 45 percent of people at the present time who are unemployed in the community of almost 800 people. There are a lot of people in the community that are capable of working, but because of the economics in the region, they are not able to find work.
I think it is important, Mr. Speaker, that we, as government, take a close look at these statistics, realizing the problem is not getting better, it’s getting worse. We see it happen in our communities. We are seeing the homeless people here in our streets in Yellowknife. We are seeing them show up in our regional centres, and also the people that we do have homeless in our communities were basically going from household to household every other night trying to find a place to sleep, either on someone’s couch or in someone’s tent frame.
Mr. Speaker, this problem is a very critical point on how government deals with the most vulnerable in our society: the poor. When people are trying to maintain themselves and show that basically they do have dignity, they do have respect, again, Mr. Speaker, what they want is a job, put food on their table, take care of their families, and that is all residents of the Northwest Territories are asking from this government.
Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time I will be asking the Minister of ECE questions on what are we doing to increase our unemployment rates in our communities. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.
