Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We know the goal of our present government is to reduce the dependency on government for jobs and social assistance. We tell our residents to make choices, get training, get a job and get off social assistance. In the small communities, this is more difficult than people think. In the community of Broughton Island, there are people willing to work and wanting to work; but there are few jobs. The people of Broughton Island have ideas and resources they wish to pursue that they can develop more jobs in the community. They need help to do this.
Presently there is no economic development officer in Broughton Island. Because of this, it appears that the community is missing out in the development of tourism and resource industries. The presence of an economic development officer in the community would assist and coordinate the residents in the development of their resources.
Mr. Speaker, when we meet to finalize budgets, we review finances department to department; not seeing the whole picture. When we look at the situation in Broughton Island as part of a larger picture, it makes economic sense to place an economic development officer in that community. Through the development of local resources and jobs, there will be less dependency on government programs like social assistance. This reduced dependency on social assistance will result in a reduced cost to the government.
Mr. Speaker, we as a government have a responsibility to help people and communities pursue economic independence. By placing economic development officers in small communities, like Broughton Island, both the community and the government benefit. The community reduces its dependence on government and the government reduces the cost of social assistance. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.