Bob Bromley

Again, what are the real benefits we’re getting? I’m not questioning that we’re getting some benefits here, but we need to weigh those benefits against the cost. I see the costs accelerating faster than the benefits: 500 homeless women in the city of Yellowknife. This didn’t happen a number of years ago, for example, before the diamond development.

I’d like to know what this Premier is going to do to get a real grasp on benefits and costs and to develop local economies. What is the Premier going to do, Mr. Speaker, to develop local economies in ways that truly benefit our residents and not...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is on some of the statements in the sessional statement presented by our Premier. I’d like to start by briefly saying that we want to “develop our vast oil and natural gas resources as soon as possible to the maximum benefit of Northerners.”

To me this is an absolute oxymoron; this is the definition of an oxymoron. They do not go together. We have no ability to levy royalties and so on. Can the Premier explain to me where he sees the truth in that statement?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. Young northern entrepreneurs are increasingly absent while we support multinationals. This government continues to promote these trends while wailing about our loss of population, lack of performance in our local economies, trades and social institutions and the soaring costs of energy.

Mr. Speaker, we have an opportunity to move forward in a different way. I ask the government to show our public that they actually see the connections in the choices we make and that they will be changing course and making the right choice. I look forward to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are all aware of the extreme financial and economic crisis playing out in the United States. We are also acutely aware of the roller coaster global stock markets reacting to the attempts of the U.S. government to respond. This volatility extends to the Toronto Stock Exchange and Canadian investments.

Northerners have closely watched the price of oil soaring to record highs before declining to about $100 per barrel today. We have noticed how erratic and unpredictable the price is. Those who bravely forecast the future price of oil do so now in a timid voice with many...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Premier is again ignoring the opportunities we have to develop our local economies. The reason places like Beau-Del are left high and dry, so to speak, when the oil and gas industry leave, is that we have not developed those local economies. We are totally dependent on this export economy. We need to develop appropriately scaled businesses that deal with our basic needs.

How is the Premier going to ensure that the next time the oil and gas industry leaves, these communities, small communities, are left with a vibrant economy?

To me that clearly shows a lack of understanding about what the costs are of these sorts of developments when we do not have the ability to levy the taxes and the oil fees that we require to get those benefits.

I ask the Premier: given the rate at which we’re mining our diamonds and shipping them out of the Northwest Territories, and along with that the labour to develop that and so on, does the Premier think we’re getting maximum benefit from our current mining of diamonds and the complete using up of this resource as fast as we can?

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to recognize Dick and Loretta Abernethy, constituents of the Weledeh riding and the parents of my illustrious colleague here, Mr. Abernethy.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I request unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Unanimous consent granted.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to talk about revenue leakage, the loss of dollars, just like with a bathtub drain, out of the Northwest Territories, out of our communities. Solutions to plugging this drain would be a huge contribution to a healthy economic stimulus for the Northwest Territories. The Government of Canada announced this morning that $40 million is the subsidy that they provide for food mail for the North. They started to suggest that we grow our own food. What a concept.

This government subsidizes almost $140 million to various forms of cost-of-living expenses. When I...

Thank you, committee. As Chair I’d like to recognize that National Aboriginal Day is the day after tomorrow. It’s an opportunity for all of us to get out and do some of the sharing that the Premier mentioned and the celebrating of our aboriginal people and their cultures. I hope to see you out there.

Does the committee agree that that concludes the business before the Committee of the Whole? Is there a motion? What is the wish of committee? Mr. Beaulieu.