Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to continue talking about the distribution of employment across the NWT. Canada’s employment rate is just under 62 per cent. The Yukon, at around 74 per cent, being the jurisdiction with the highest employment rate. The NWT is second at just over 70 per cent.
Mr. Speaker, we look great from a national perspective, however our employment rate is below 50 per cent in over 65 per cent of our small communities. It is good that larger centres have such high employment rates. It’s good for their families, their communities and the NWT. However, the low employment rates for the small communities is not good. It is not good for families, communities and the NWT as a whole. It has a negative impact on health and educational outcomes, among other implications.
Mr. Speaker, the mandate of our government is to improve the lives of our poorest people. For the most part, they are people in our small communities. As you can see, the employment rate of people in small communities is more than 30 per cent lower than in larger centres. Imagine what life would be like if 30 per cent of the people working in Yellowknife lost their jobs. It is an everyday reality for the small communities. Increasing employment in small communities will help all the people of the NWT.
Mr. Speaker, it is a known and accepted fact that the increase in income has a direct and positive impact on the cost of the justice system, healthcare, education and social services and issues like child protection. Furthermore, income allows the small communities to deal with the high cost of living by providing resources that allow them to harvest food. Harvesting helps create and sustain local economies. It allows people to share food, and continue traditional arts and crafts. There are opportunities for people who can repair small engines used in snowmobiles, quads and boats that people use to travel on the land. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, these activities are needed to sustain the economy in the small communities. Without them, our small community people cannot afford to eat. There are many families with NO food. Mr. Speaker, that is heartbreaking. Marci cho.
Masi. Members’ statements. Member for Kam Lake.
