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NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
Home to the territory's capital city, the North Slave region is a stark example of the disparity between large and small NWT communities.

NWT exporation of commercial fish through the Fresh-water Fish Marketing Corporation has been on a decline since 2000 but domestic sales are on the rise, particularly in Yellowknife, according to the GNWT. - NNSL file photo

Economic facts of the North Slave region The North Slave region, excluding Yellowknife, comprises 8 per cent of the territory's population Jobs in government, health, social service, or education comprise of 44 per cent of exployment in the region, excluding Yellowknife. Average personal income in Bechoko, Gameti, Lutselk'e, and Whati is between $31,500 and $35,754 Only 17 per cent of homes have internet access in Lutselk'e. Source: GNWT

Mike Bradshaw, executive director for the NWT Chamber of Commerce, said mine and resource development projects in the region, as well as elsewhere in the territory, have the potential to boost the economy of smaller communities.

"I think the smaller communities more often than not benefit from mining projects because impact benefit agreements and socio-economic agreements really support their engagement through employment and Northern content in terms of supply and services like logistics," said Bradsaw.

"If we can get the regulatory regime streamlined and start to move some of our mine projects and resource development projects forward than smaller communities will find that many of their residents could well find gainful employment with those projects."

The highest unemployment rates in the region are found in Ndilo at 44 per cent.

The lowest rate is 15 per cent in Wekweeti. The territory average for unemployment is 10 per cent.

While the projects indicate opportunity on paper, presentations in recent public hearings have raised the issue that not as many locals were hired by the current operational mines as was expected when they were approved.

Training opportunities will be key to taking advantage of these opportunities said Minister of Industry, Tourism, and Investment David Ramsay during an interview with News/North in early January.

"If you look at what's happening in Nunavut and in the Yukon, there's a need across Canada's Arctic to see a big push on developing a local workforce," he said.

Ramsay also identified resource development as key to addressing the high unemployment rates in smaller communities.

De Beer's Gahcho Kue, Fortune Minerals' NICO gold-cobalt-bismuth-copper, Avalon's Nechalacho rare earths, and Tyhee's Yellowknife Gold Project are among the major projects in the region currently working their way through the regulatory process.

Ramsay also said it will be key for the territory to diversify the economy as much as possible to be sustainable.

A presentation prepared by the GNWT as part of the NWT Economic Opportunities tour, identified commercial fishing, birch products, furs and tourism as some of the possible areas of focus.

The NWT Chamber met with the NWT Economic Opportunities Panel, which is charged with developing the territory's new economic strategy, mid-January along with representatives from other chambers in the territory.

A streamlined regulatory process, devolution progress, secure gas supply in Inuvik and the use of surplus power in the South Slave for economic development were among the issues discussed, according to Bradshaw.

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