Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in early February, this government released the much anticipated Economic Strategy Report. We know from discussions of last summer that the contract to develop the strategy had a hefty price tag, some half million dollar figure was bandied about. It was initiated and was to be directed by the former Finance Minister, Mr. Todd.
When the strategy was released, the document was handed over from the Finance Minister to the Minister of RWED, Mr. Kakfwi. Mr. Kakfwi has made it clear that after he had received the document, that as far as he was concerned the document was only a discussion paper. Although this economic strategy was to cover Nunavut as well, we found out that Nunavut was not waiting for the document and had in fact gone ahead with a process of developing its own economic strategy.
In March of this year, I asked a number of knowledgeable constituents and business people to provide me with feedback on the economic strategy document. They came back with comments that referenced what we started with and where we ended up. In the original request for proposal several specific terms of reference were outlined:
-that two strategies were to be developed, one for the east and one for the west;
-that specific priorities for investment be outlined;
-that measurable goals and ways for measuring performance be detailed;
-that roles for all stakeholders be clearly defined;
-that the strategy document be developed with and supported by key stakeholders;
-that a communications plan for each strategy be included.
These were just some of the key requirements the contractor was to deliver in the final product of the economic strategy. The report does not provide us with all of these things and it gives us a discussion paper rather than a strategy. The economic paper is full of economic policy declarations and much repetition. There seems to be no guidance in the paper on how to achieve the policy ideas, but this is exactly why an Economic strategy contract was awarded by this government, to provide us with directives that can be implemented and measured. The people that replied to me tell me the document is difficult to read. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.