Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like

to recognize constituent Roy Erasmus. At least for the next couple of months he’s a constituent of Weledeh. So, welcome to the House.

I’d also like to welcome the visitors from the Yukon. You know, we don’t get nearly enough east-west interaction, so I really appreciate the visitors joining us in the House and visiting Yellowknife. Mahsi.

In focus sessions, participants concluded that food systems are at the heart of localized economies and food security; that climate change, energy costs and health are three primary drivers of renewable energy adoption; and that compared to oil and gas, renewables are investments in local jobs and businesses. Much work needs to be done to evolve government policy that recognizes and supports local economies.

In conclusion, the goal should be community empowerment that builds a strong local economic foundation and restores the commons. We need to take control of our destiny, invest in our collective strengths, and work together locally towards a brighter economic future. Now there is an economic approach that will address the Minister’s fiscal challenges and all Members’ goals of healthy families and communities supported by this government.

Let’s get ‘er done. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was following and supporting the Finance Minister’s report on the fiscal situation we are leaving for the 18th Assembly, noting the volatility of the global

economy, the mining industry and our economy; low revenues; and the need to diversify. That is until he suddenly and illogically looped back to saying that, therefore, we have to pursue the highly volatile and uncertain extractive industry even harder.

People are drained of any remnant of enthusiasm for this old way of thinking and they pine for recognition of the real opportunities we do have for vibrant, localized and cooperative economies that benefit our families, communities and businesses.

Last May people from across the Northwest Territories, convinced that a new vision is needed, came together with economists to explore localization of our community economies and what it could mean. They saw a viable alternative to a resource extractive economy, but one that must deal with two issues: climate change and poverty. This means changes to our economic model from a global one to a local one.

People were enthused. Localized economies enhance rather than degrade resources, target community

people

rather

than

transient

populations, take a grassroots approach and support diversity. They are achieved by removing fossil fuel subsidies, following the polluter pays principle,

refocusing

towards

diverse

local

enterprises rather than a single extractive industry, and replacing the glamorized industrial model based on external investors to an economic gardening model with local people in mind. The gathering recognized that poverty and inequity are bad for our economy but that the NWT could alter tax policy

– and I disagree with the A grade – so it

is investing in sustainable economic infrastructure and social and cultural development. Attendees recognize that globalized businesses don’t attend to local needs, highlighting why ownership is key. Public and cooperative ownership are ways to include local people and focus investment locally. This approach supports quality of life and the strengthening of social structure. In focus sessions, participants concluded that food systems are at the heart of localized economies and food security for everyone; that climate change, energy costs and health are three primary drivers of renewable energy adoption…

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move we report progress.

---Defeated

Thank you. I have no more questions. I have no problems with the briefing laid out by the Mi

nister there and I’ll look forward to that

information. Mahsi.

Thanks to the Minister. That sounds good. I wonder, though, if the Minister could work with his colleague and provide us with an outline of exactly how our economic development officers are aware of this challenge for communities and helping out in helping them select the best possible options and cost benefits for their access to this. Thank you.

Thanks to the Minister. I intend no slur with NorthwestTel, but obviously they will have that possibility, that potential. This is the proverbial captive audience. That is why I am saying it seems clear there is a need to provide some support to communities to consider and assess alternatives and make sure they are able to pick out the best ones and also that they have some expertise to draw

on to

make sure that they’re not being taken

advantage of as a captive audience in our valley communities. Thank you.

I appreciate that. I am just wondering: how are we helping the communities take advantage of that point of presence, I guess is what I am saying. I am asking because, obviously, they don’t always have the capacity. I certainly would be at a loss on how to take advantage of the point of presence. It is beyond my ken. I am wondering: are we helping communities to assess options towards optimizing the benefits they will get that a point of presence provides in each home. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am assuming there has been more thinking done on this, but I am wondering if we could get a clear statement on how access to this really state-of-the-art technology is being assured and how it will be improved access for our residents and communities

along the line. I understand the situation in Inuvik with the satellite infrastructure and so on, but I am wondering, are homes and residents and families throughout the valley? Thank you.