Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As spring arrives and the trees leaf out, it’s clear that money is not growing on those trees. But perhaps our Minister of Finance has a different view.
Our government is deeper in debt than it has ever been, yet the Minister wants a spending spree that will put us another billion dollars in the red. We continue to aggressively pursue more and more massive and expensive infrastructure projects that we can ill afford, while seeking ever-increasing debt limits. We spend big on infrastructure for large private sector projects that never materialize, stranding us with unaffordable costs and few benefits. Some might call this living beyond our means; others, perhaps, dreaming in colour.
Unfortunately, added to the financial costs of these so-called investments are the cost of foregone investment in truly sustainable development; increased, rather than decreased, cost of living; and impacts which often run counter to the intent of our Land Use and Sustainability Policy.
The government refuses to come to terms with reality with what projects, policies and directions are actually environmentally, socially and economically sustainable. Growth in the number of migrant workers snapping up jobs more suitably filled by the unemployed and skilled workers of the NWT continues unconstrained, fuelling the leakage of $500 million in wages and over $33 million in tax dollars from our territory every year. This grows annually.
Meanwhile, our soaring debt builds up on the backs of fewer and fewer people. This demands a revenue response, of course, so there’s no surprise that government is bent on aggressive resource exploitation that will service this black hole.
It doesn’t have to be this way. We know what is required for truly sustainable development, development that strengthens our social fabric, supports our different cultures, creates local and lasting jobs and real economies, and is environmentally benign or restorative.
Clearly, a new approach to territorial financial planning and a move to development versus exploitation at all cost are needed. It ain’t rocket science, as attractive as such rocket science might seem.
When will the Cabinet come to us with fresh, new proposals based upon sound and effective policy and focused on truly sustainable development? People in the Northwest Territories are waiting. While we enjoy spring, we know fall will be here soon enough and even the leaves will disappear. Mahsi.