Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to speak about the unfair allocation of capital resources by this government. For three terms, Mr. Speaker, I have been asking this government to increase spending in smaller communities. In addition and as a mandate of this government to create employment where jobs where needed most, all one has to do is to examine some Northwest Territories statistics to know that our smaller communities are where jobs are needed most.

Mr. Speaker, over the years, I have asked this government to work with our small communities on a wide variety of community projects and strategic spending items. Some of these include building more access roads around the communities, building a new healthcare centre in Lutselk'e, building a new school in Detah, all of which would stimulate our economy by creating new jobs and improving services.

Moreover, Mr. Speaker, I have asked for a more economic and feasible way of allowing seniors to age in place in their homes and in their communities. This could be done by increasing homecare services and making seniors' homes barrier-free. Instead, Mr. Speaker, this government is choosing to invest in more expensive models of senior care by building long-term care facilities in Hay River, Inuvik, and Yellowknife. Don't get me wrong, Mr. Speaker, I think that these long-care facilities will be needed by our government, but, for a government that is struggling to increase revenues, it is very apparent that other economic alternatives are needed.

Mr. Speaker, there is a proven and acceptable economic model that shows that, if you put people to work, the government will see returns of at least $2.50 for every dollar that is spent.

Mr. Speaker, Ministers have told me that this point is true but that the returns were too long-term, and the government often chooses to prioritize short-term returns. Indeed, some of this spending does take time to return results. As an example, in the last 15 years, the percentage of high school graduates has gone up by 35 per cent.

Mr. Speaker, investments that produce more immediate returns can be seen in things such as healthcare costs. It is a fact that a higher individual income means a healthier life. Moreover, other immediate returns can be found through investing and other prevailing social issues such as social housing, mental health and addiction services, which take cost pressures off health care, justice and income support. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted