Thank you, Madam Chair. I was quite surprised to hear the comments from my colleague from Iqaluit. It sounded like he was reading a ministerial press release on this program. It was nice to hear that he is supportive of it since, as he indicated, we did work on this with Cabinet.
Madam Chair, we have just come through 18 months, as has already noted by some Members, of deficit reduction and a bleak, sort of black time in terms of the north, having to do things that have never had to be done before and the pressures and stress that is causing communities and the economies in communities. I see this Northern Employment Strategy as a good first step. Very clearly, it is targeted as a short term program, but it is a start. We have to clearly recognize that unless we address some of the fundamental drivers that are effecting us, we are never going to be able to do the things that people want, which is to develop a strong private economy that creates real jobs. Until we come to grips with issues like the birth rate and the alcohol problems, the other social problems, the housing issues, the education issues, then we are going to be, in my opinion always, doomed to an endless cycle of short term job strategies. While this is a start to move from the negative dark side of trying to balance our books and deficit reduction to the stronger, more positive side of economic development, this is not the final answer. I think that is recognized.
I support the contents of this. I think the focus on business and employment outside of government is critical. And, in my opinion while it may not do it perfectly, it does recognize the regional differences when you look at the breakdown of the regions and the money. It may not be done as well as it possibly could have been or to have all the money go to where the greatest need is, but there is need everywhere, it is just a matter of scale. So, Madam Chair, I think this is a good start, but we have to maintain the focus on the strong, non-government based economy that creates real jobs. As Mr. Steen said, it is not just a case of constantly repainting the same building or shovelling snow in the winter time. Until we take the time as a government, and I do not know if this government will have time in its life to significantly address the fundamental drivers that I have already mentioned, we are going to have a tough time doing more than short term job strategy. This is a good step to get us towards division, and then the onus falls on the two new legislatures, east and west, to try to do the significant restructuring and economic development that each territory is going to require if they are going to survive as viable entities. Thank you, Madam Chair.