Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I would like to make a few comments on the state of our economy and employment in the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, many Members of this Assembly, especially our colleague Mr. Todd who has since moved to the other side of this House, have made many eloquent statements about our economy and the status of unemployment in the Northwest Territories.
In the last Assembly, there was a special committee that looked at the economic situations and did extensive work and prepared various strategies. I think the report was titled the SCONE report and dealt on various strategies dealing with arts and crafts, small business, transportation, renewable resources and tourism.
Yet today, Mr. Speaker, we are still faced with the same situations: high transportation costs; chronic unemployment; increased taxes; increasing our WCB rates which affect employment; and increasing paper burdens on businesses, organizations and residences. We are still talking about these things. The budget address which the Minister of Finance presented to this House relies greatly on non-renewable resource developments and hydro developments. I guess his wish and all of ours is that some of these developments would come to fruition and solve some of the problems we are experiencing.
Also, the new programs, the amalgamation of Education, Culture and Employment Programs, and the Public Works and Housing programs put together are hopefully going to help resolve some of these issues. However, we still need better communication. I think our time for words and studies are long passed. We have heard these over and over again, now is the time for action. Mahsi.
---Applause