Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]
Mr. Speaker, time and time again I have asked about the issue of very low employment rates in Tu Nedhe. In other words, Mr. Speaker, I’m talking about people in Tu Nedhe that do not have work. Mr. Speaker, I have drawn comparisons to the larger communities in the NWT which have employment rates twice that of the small communities.
Mr. Speaker, if this government does not develop an employment strategy for smaller communities, things will not change. Employment development in the smaller communities will not impact the larger communities in a negative way. In fact, the more employment created in the smaller communities, the better it will be for the larger communities.
Mr. Speaker, if the government has to develop a strategy with a goal of increasing employment rates in the small communities by 20 to 25 percent, meaning that we plan to raise the employment rates from around 40 percent to 65 percent, we would have many positive impacts throughout the North, including in the larger communities. Mr. Speaker, if these small communities had employment rates comparable to the rest of the North, this government would see savings in income support, health, social services and housing.
Mr. Speaker, currently there are several programs run by both the GNWT and the federal government that could be coordinated and incorporated into an employment strategy led by Education, Culture and Employment. This will take a real effort, but the benefits will be well worth it.
Mr. Speaker, people with jobs have good child care options, will show a renewed interest in their children’s education. Currently, people show signs of hopelessness in the small communities. It is difficult for people to get up day after day and get their children off to school when they themselves have nothing to do, no job to go to, no productive choice to make.
I cannot lay out what the...
Mr. Beaulieu, your time for your Member’s statement has expired.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
I cannot lay out what the Employment Strategy could consist of, but I feel that the very first step to providing much needed employment and income into the small communities is a strategy for the betterment of the entire NWT.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
