[Witness speaks in Inuktitut]
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today.
I have requested an appearance here today because I am convinced the government has an opportunity to address the real needs of Inuit, as well as offer a real return to Canadians in its upcoming budget.
First, let me say that all Canadians could benefit from gaining more insight into the cost-benefit dynamics between economic and social development among Inuit people. Federal budget planners and all Canadians would benefit from additional analysis on two vital questions. First, what kind of new investments need to be made to deliver a realistic chance of closing the gaps in material living standards between Inuit and other Canadians within one or two generations? Second, knowing that the Canadian economy will be increasingly impacted by the contributions of young aboriginal peoples, what will be the predictable cost to Canadian society of not closing such gaps?
My first suggestion is that the Minister of Finance direct his department to carry out an objective examination of the two questions I have posed and to report back to this committee with the results of that examination.
My second suggestion relates to the proposed changes to Canada's criminal justice system that could result in a very large increase in the number of persons serving time in correctional facilities, of which a hugely disproportionate number would be aboriginal. Inuit are abundantly aware of the suffering caused by crime.
Compared to other Canadians, we see more crime in our communities; and compared with other jurisdictions, rates of violent crime are not in decline. But there is no evidence that steering federal expenditures into a massive expansion of the prison system will bring about safer communities. The fact that huge sums of money will not be available to invest in the prevention of crime and the reform of criminals, mental health programs, substance abuse programs, special education needs programs, and youth counselling will result in more blighted and broken lives. A lot of these are related to intergenerational broken lives and grief.
I recommend that the government consider amending its draft legislation to redirect a substantial portion of those budgetary resources to the enhancement of crime prevention activities, with a particular focus on young people, education, training efforts, and health programs within existing correctional facilities.
Finally, Inuit have an urgent need in three specific areas. I urge the committee to consider funding the following: first, $10 million over five years as seed money for the implementation of the national strategy on Inuit education, contained in First Canadians, Canadians First; second, $15 million over five years for expanded mental health programs in the four Inuit regions of Nunavut, Nunavik in northern Quebec, Nunatsiavut in northern Labrador, and the Inuvialuit settlement region of the Northwest Territories, which comprise our homeland called Inuit Nunangat; and third, $300 million for a concentrated two-year program of new housing construction in the four Inuit regions, over and above what has already been approved.
These ideas have also been described in the letter I sent to Minister Flaherty this spring.
Thank you for your attention.