Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Anti-poverty is something I don't know a lot about. I know that members of Alternatives North have worked on it and are passionate about it. I have not been following it, so I can't speak authoritatively. I would like to mention one thing regarding the urban-rural split. One phenomenon that we are seeing in the Northwest Territories is that a lot of people are moving from the smaller communities into the larger centres—not only Yellowknife but also places like Behchoko and Inuvik.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  One of the real challenges is even if the schools are there.... Every community does have the primary and secondary. Most communities now have up to grade 12, but a real challenge is keeping kids in school. Those dropout rates, those participation rates, and attendance are huge issues.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Ours is alternative energy throughout the NWT.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I would agree that food security is going to be a vital issue, and I think it's important that we support the traditional economy and look at other ways of pursuing food security as well. Thank you.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  It's a great question. We have some exciting programs with the aboriginal head start program. I think it's aimed at three to six, and that's important. I don't think there has to be an excessive degree of institutionalization. There's the important healthy start program in Hawaii.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I'm not an expert on the fur industry, but I think obviously it's an important one. I would point out the fact that there was an extremely successful trapping program out of Colville Lake, where a school class was able to earn a substantial amount of money, and I believe they took a trip.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I am not an expert.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Sure, I'll start off. Thank you, Mr. Duncan. I think one of the challenges in terms of economic development is having a trained workforce. I think there are increasing opportunities in terms of alternative energy, but there is a shortage; we do not have that expertise there. These systems are complicated and they require an attitude where we can work on these things.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  With respect to green energy, we have many opportunities but many challenges. The cost of generating electricity in the Northwest Territories in some communities approaches $2.50 per kilowatt hour, and that's a huge amount of money. The problem is that moving towards alternative energy takes time and effort.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I don't think Alternatives North has actually weighed in on the issue of the Mackenzie Highway. I would just say that we need to make sure that there is an appropriate level of environmental review of the road. One of the big issues, I would imagine, is the regulatory regime in the Northwest Territories.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you. I think one of the real threats to the sustainability of communities is the price of oil. As Terry was mentioning, many communities are very dependent on using diesel generation. In 2008 we experienced the price of oil going up to $150 a barrel, and that was in July.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  At Alternatives North we have not thought a lot about the Mackenzie Valley in terms of the highway, but I think the question we would ask.... One of the things we often refuse to do is join bandwagons; we like to have solid thinking on these issues. While we certainly respect the wishes of people in the valley, I do want to pose this question to them: what is the most effective way of trying to get those gains they want?

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you very much for the question, Mr. Russell. I do appreciate it. People from all different walks of life, different political parties, by and large agree on the vision. The real question is, what is the strategy? One thing that comes up so often in terms of our friends in business is that they often point to business development.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you. Good day and welcome to the Northwest Territories. I want to start by thanking you for the opportunity to speak to you today on behalf of Alternatives North. Although my French isn't perfect, I do make an effort to speak the language. It's one way for me to honour my wife, who is from Quebec, and my in-laws.