Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Residents from all regions of the Northwest Territories gathered last week to discuss ways to re-localize their community economy. The Building Localized Economies forum, hosted by Ecology North, was an exciting opportunity for people to share thoughts and experiences on how to capture local, lasting and meaningful jobs, restore our depleted environment and develop economies that actually serve communities.
They showed the combined domestic and local market economy that communities seek is far richer than the global market economy forced upon them today.
They explored the concept of economic gardening, local meat and fish processing, raising vegetables, co-ops and community markets, and biomass, solar and wind energy as costs of renewable energy plummets, and ways in which communities can take back power for governance and well-being.
Myriad related topics on localizing our economies were covered through inspiring panel discussions and open forums. Fifty-plus people participated daily, with hundreds more providing local perspectives and questions through the digital democracy IserveU Internet connection.
From the Fort McPherson community biomass energy system we learned of the role of elders, project challenges and solutions and policy needs. From Lutselk’e we heard about a rare community solar power purchase agreement with NTPC, partially enabled by trainee installers.
Jackie Milne’s description of Hay River’s Northern Farm Training Institute project and Savoury Institute Hub showed that food is the heart of our economies, and equally can-do and successful farmers market in Yellowknife was inspiring to many.
From Norman Wells came everything we need to know about successfully producing all of the potatoes we are ever likely to require.
Important connections were made, with Fort Good Hope’s need for a fish processing expert matching available expertise from a fisher in Yellowknife, key to enabling Fort Good Hope’s local fish processing and storage plan.
Similarly, policy to address the current loss of fish and restaurant waste for composting was clarified.
Mayors also highlighted community partnerships as key.
The need for strategic redirection of government funds from perverse subsidies to rebalancing the playing field away from fossil fuels and towards localizing the provision of our core needs by focusing on human needs and renewable resources was recognized repeatedly. The goal is successful and innovative community empowerment that builds a strong local economic foundation, rejects a boom and bust approach and restores the commons.
Programs like the Tlicho Wilderness Training Programs, social initiatives...
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Mahsi.
---Unanimous consent granted