Debates of August 23, 2011 (day 16)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to bring attention today to a very slow moving government project. That project is the development of an Anti-Poverty Strategy.

As early as February 2010, I began urging the government to recognize the need for a government-wide comprehensive Anti-Poverty Strategy and to take action on it. I’ve made statements in the House many times since. To its credit, the government has taken some action in the last year and a half, but it’s been too little and taken much too much time to get going.

A motion was passed in this House on February 11th last year which called for the development of a comprehensive NWT Anti-Poverty Strategy, and on May 19th the Premier in his statement that day said, “Mr. Speaker, we’re prepared to undertake the work required to develop an overarching discussion paper that would address issues of defining and measuring progress on poverty, summarize current programs and strategic direction related to reducing poverty areas for further action.” That was 15 months ago, Mr. Speaker, and we have yet to see that paper.

As of October last year when no action had been taken to start the promised work, concerned NWT residents, the No Place for Poverty Alliance, organized and held a very successful workshop, the results of which were published in the No Place for Poverty report. That report again urged the GNWT to begin development of an Anti-Poverty Strategy. Another period of inaction followed until the Premier, in February of this year, announced the establishment of a GNWT working group which would produce the discussion paper he’d promised a year before. As of today, Members have not seen that paper and indications are the report on the development of a strategy will be handed off to the 17th Assembly.

I have to ask, Mr. Speaker, when will we see that paper, because it is long overdue. I can only interpret the government’s delay as a stalling tactic; that the hope is the issue will go away if they wait long enough. Well, that’s not about to happen, Mr. Speaker. The benefits of such a strategy to the government, to our staff and to our residents are immeasurable. This issue is supported by the No Place for Poverty Alliance, a group comprised of 29 diverse organizations who represent people right across the NWT. An Anti-Poverty Strategy is important to me, as well, Mr. Speaker, but how important is it to other Members of this House? Well, we will soon know.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

At a press conference this morning the alliance launched its anti-poverty election tool kit. They will be asking each candidate in the October 3rd election to take a pledge to make an Anti-Poverty Strategy a key priority for the 17th Assembly. The Alliance will then publish the results for voters’ consideration.

I have to commend the Alliance for their election initiative and fully support their stand. The development of this strategy must be a top priority for the next Assembly. It’s an issue which will not go away. Our residents need it. Our NGOs and local governments want it and are asking for it. I have to ask: will the Assembly rise to the challenge brought to us by the people? We shall see. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Colleagues, before I go to the next Member for Members’ statements I’d like to draw your attention to the gallery and the presence of a former Member of the House, Mr. Henry Zoe is with us today.

The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.