YELLOWKNIFE - Waiting for the government to address challenges facing the North is akin to putting the cart before the horse for a pair of former politicians who attended the third round of macroeconomic policy consultations in Yellowknife Tuesday.

Former Finance Minister John Todd (right) shares some thoughts with the current territorial money man Floyd Roland at the third round of macroeconomic policy consultations, held in Yellowknife Tuesday. - Jason Unrau/NNSL photo

"We're too busy thinking government is going to take care of everything," said John Todd, former GNWT finance minister. "The government can't be all things to all people."

Todd said it's pointless to base economic policy discussions solely around a tenuous pipeline project and that people need to focus on what's already here.

"You have a real economy right now and it's called mining," added Todd. "That's real and that's right now and there's a learning curve from that industry that holds us in good stead for future projects, like the pipeline."

Former premier and current director of the Nihtat Gwich'in Council Richard Nerysoo agreed.

"It seems our whole focus is primarily on the big project and that's fine but what happens after that project is done?" he asked. "Economic policy needs to incorporate a bigger vision and you can't isolate these issues otherwise roads and all the other stuff will fall by the wayside."

For Nerysoo, "all the other stuff" includes alternate economic ventures such as diamond exploration, which the Gwich'in are currently engaged in and enhancing infrastructure to go after other dollars.

"The cold weather testing station closed in Fairbanks because they don't have enough consecutive -20 days," Nerysoo said. "Bombardier comes to Inuvik every year to test their equipment, why didn't we consider that facility moving to Inuvik?"

On the subject of education, Nerysoo noted the untapped potential of small businesses with respect to apprenticeships and training programs.

"Small businesses are fundamental in this area but they are left out of the mix."

Both Nerysoo and Todd believe that education; infrastructure and safeguarding the environment were key planks to any future economic policy.

However, engaging the potential workforce already here, managing migratory workers from the south (a necessity with the territories' current shallow labour pool), and addressing current and future social problems associated with a burgeoning economy remain concerns among all stakeholders.

"Sometimes we are our worst critics, we've come a long way in a short time," said Todd. "That's not to say there's not more to be done (but) northern people are participating more in the economy today than 15 years ago."

In addition to these consultations, which wrapped up this week, Cabinet Communications Director Julia Mott said policy formation is an ongoing challenge and that Finance Minister Floyd Roland, "Has been and continues to be in discussion with academic experts and leaders in business field."

Results from consultations will be announced at the end of the summer.