Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to speak today on the value of civil society and the voluntary sector. One of the definitive characteristics of civil society is social capital, which refers to the values and networks that enable coordination and cooperation. This contrasts with economic capital, such as money and tools, and human capital, which are trained individuals. Government and market are not enough to make a civilization. There also must be a healthy, robust civil centre; a space in which the bonds of community can flourish.
There are two key elements in civil society. One is the need for inclusive participation to enhance civil society and the primacy of the grassroots as the locus of long-term social change. Civil society is the people, and the people know what needs to be done.
The voluntary sector is essential to the democratic process. It is all about citizen participation and engagement in the community betterment, by advancing human well-being and the health of our land.
I would like to mention just a number of the non-government organizations, volunteer organizations that I’m aware of in thinking about this for just a few minutes:
Centre for Northern Families
YWCA
Native Women’s Association
Hepatitis C/HIV Society
Alternatives North
The Salvation Army
SideDoor Youth Centre
Ecology North
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society
NWT Recreation and Parks Association
Pembina Institute
We could all go on and on. These are a fundamental part of the backbone of our society. I’d like to express appreciation for the thousands of hours of volunteer and often very poorly compensated efforts through individuals, families and non-government organizations.
This includes the domestic economy, which is a huge economy that dwarfs the market economy but is so difficult to measure that it’s almost never reported on or recognized. This is when we care for our own elderly, our own people that are having challenges.
A big tip of the hat to all those people out there working on behalf of us and our society.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.
