Mr. Speaker, traditional economy. Mr. Speaker, traditional economy is a significant contributor to the northern economy, especially in smaller communities. Traditional economy has sustained many generations of not only Northerners, but people of many races and creeds from around the world. Traditional economy was, in fact, the original economy in place well before the advent of wage and income economies. Traditional economy has been and continues to be widely practised in many countries throughout the world, and is often referred to as part of the agrarian economy.

In terms of the Sahtu, food that would otherwise be purchased that is being displaced by the traditional economy is estimated to be in the range of $1.6 million per annum, or almost $2,000 per capita.

Mr. Speaker, barter and now cash are becoming increasingly important in traditional economy. Since the introduction and emergence of the snowmobile and outboard motors, cash has become more and more integral to the mobility and productivity of traditional harvesters.

The positive effect of automation on traditional economy is increased opportunities, change, and output. The downside of automation is the burden of operating and capital expenses.

What is the traditional economy? Mr. Speaker, a system of production for both use and exchange, consisting of natural resource, harvesting, hunting, trapping, fishing, gathering, and processing activities by which people provide for food, fuel, other material household needs, as a means of subsistence and source of material for trade.

Mr. Speaker, economic evolution in the NWT has not been equally applied across all communities. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted