Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Construction of the road between Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk is an important first step in completing the Mackenzie Valley Highway. If we do it right, this project will provide many jobs and business opportunities.
Living in the Delta, I see all kinds of business going to the Yukon because the Dempster Highway is our supplier. I see millions of dollars going down the road every year, Mr. Speaker. We need that business and economic opportunity in our territory. The Beaufort-Delta region badly needs a boost to its economy and people need jobs so they can support their families. The unemployment level in most of our communities is terrible, at 35 percent.
As you know, creating jobs is one way we can build safe and sustainable communities, one of this government’s main priorities. By building the road to Tuk, we will create lots of jobs. The question is who’s going to do them. Will our people in the Beaufort-Delta be ready for those jobs?
I’m worried that we are behind on providing education and training to prepare the Delta workforce to get well-paying highway jobs that should be available for many years to come. For example, there should be Class 1 driving courses in every community every few months.
Appropriate courses should be delivered through the community learning centres, but some are not very active and in some communities they don’t even exist. Current high school students should be ready and able to handle the future jobs. The community schools are under-resourced and graduation rates could be a lot better.
Support for students who have completed high school in Inuvik is another big problem. If this territory is going to prosper, and if our people are going to prosper, we have to improve our education and training.
I’ll be asking the Education, Culture and Employment Minister about that later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
