Bob Bromley

What are in fact our real economic challenges? Employment remains disproportionately higher in major centres. Diversification of small community economies remains stalled. We accept unreasonable environmental costs for ever more of the almighty dollars. We underappreciate our domestic economy.

However, opportunities abound for development of our forests, fisheries, agriculture, arts and renewable energy resources that will lower operating and living costs. They await our focus.

There is work to be done, but a roaring economy is not a healthy economy. Merry Christmas to all.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to speak in support of the motion before us today. I want to start by just noting that a revved up and healthy economy does not equate directly to reducing poverty unless there is a clear strategy in place to ensure that benefits and opportunities trickle through to all people that need it. Again, we can have a revved up economy, we have had a revved up economy, and yet we are still struggling with these issues.

We are looking today for a clear commitment to put together a strategy to address that. The income gap is growing. The disparity is growing steadily and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to present a petition dealing with the matter of creating an Anti-Poverty Strategy for the Northwest Territories.

The petition contains 309 signatures of Northwest Territories residents. The petitioners request that the Government of the Northwest Territories get to work immediately on creating an Anti-Poverty Strategy for the Northwest Territories and that the government work collaboratively with community groups, labour, business and others who want to eliminate poverty in the Northwest Territories. Mahsi.

Again, I appreciate the response from the Minister. Obviously the motion and the discussions – I think this was brought up in our motion on Bill C-10 as well – was specifically to deal with the mental health issues. Can the Minister assure me that there will be a focus of the… Obviously I am hoping for broader and other areas of prevention and diversion, but in this particular case I am hoping we can focus on the mental health issues that the Northwest Territories is challenged with. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question today is for the Minister of Justice. The rate of mental health issues in the Northwest Territories is the highest in Canada. Health and Social Services is in the process of reorganizing our mental health services. A motion in the 16th Assembly calling for a mental health court was overwhelmingly endorsed by front-line, non-government organizations, and Bill C-10, obviously, elevates dramatically the need for prevention and diversion programs to keep people, especially those with mental health issues, out of the costly justice process. What is the Minister...

I’m glad we are working on a poverty strategy. I think there are probably a couple of different interpretations on the work that’s been done to date; however, I won’t dwell on that.

Representatives of the Anti-Poverty Alliance met recently with the Priorities and Planning committee to discuss developments on creation of an Anti-Poverty Strategy, and they also plan to meet with Cabinet in the new year, I believe, in January. Given the broad-based called for creation of a strategy, the unfulfilled promises of the last government and a promise to make an Anti-Poverty Strategy a priority from 18 of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are also for the Premier today. I just want to follow up on my Member’s statement. Clearly, the statistics describe the vast disparity in household incomes between our richest and poorest citizens. I would appreciate a general reaction on this from the Premier. It’s obvious that these are trustworthy numbers and the trend is not a good one. Does the Premier agree that we can’t really claim to have a just and equitable society when some people have so much and increasing numbers of other people struggle to survive on so little? Thank you.

Twenty-six of the NWT’s foremost advocacy groups – the Dene Nation has just signed on – and four municipalities have insisted we sit down with businesses, communities, organizations and those living in poverty, to create a strategic multi-faceted approach to help our citizens out of poverty.

I will be asking the Premier questions on his plans for carrying these commitments forward. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to table the following document, entitled “Average Household Income by Lowest and Highest Income Group, Canada, Provinces and Territories, 2009.” Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess, just briefly, I would be interested to learn what possibilities there are for support from the federal government to deal with these issues based on the Minister’s visit. Thank you.