Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my statement today is regarding economic growth and job creation. Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday past, I spoke about the need for this Assembly to develop strategies to deal with the economic; and social challenges facing communities across the Northwest Territories. For many years, Mr. Speaker, the government ties been the main engine of economic growth in the Territories, either through the direct creation of new jobs or the indirect creation of jobs by using policies to ensure that its capital budget benefits northern businesses.
Mr. Speaker, it is clear from the statements of the House, of the government, to date, that if government is the engine of economic growth in the Territories, then we have just slammed on the brakes. Government is restructuring in such a manner that will eliminate jobs, not create them. Spending on capital and government programs is expected to be reduced significantly, affecting a number of jobs in the private sector. Mr. Speaker, while the downsizing of government will be felt in headquarters and in the regional centres, the smaller centres that are even more dependent on government will be especially hard hit.
On Wednesday, I told Members about the RSV outbreak in Arviat and the underlying economic and social problems that I believe contributed to this tragedy. Mr. Speaker, the two communities that I represent face similar challenges to other communities in both the Western Arctic and Nunavut. They are not regional centres and for the most part do not have the economic opportunities available to them, aside from the pursuit of traditional activities. Unemployment rates in these communities are astronomically high. For example, in Arviat and Baker Lake, although the official unemployment rate runs in the area of 25 to 30 per cent, the real unemployment rate is closer to 70 to 75 per cent. Many of the people in these communities have given up looking for work because there is none. As a result, they are not included in the Stats Canada estimates. At the same time, Mr. Speaker, the birthrates in these communities are amongst the highest in North America. The basic fact of the matter is that the problem is simply getting worse.
Mr. Speaker, reductions to government programs are felt more acutely in these communities. The more diverse economies in the larger regional centres make them better able to absorb these cuts. Mr. Speaker, I'm not trying to make light of the challenges facing the larger centres.
Mr. Speaker, I ask for unanimous consent to continue my statement.