INUVIK
Industry, Tourism and Investment Minister David Ramsay is confident about the GNWT's economic strategy.

Industry, Tourism and Investment Minister David Ramsay touted GWNT economic policies as well as the new Inuvik economic development strategy during a visit April 10. - Shawn Giilck/NNSL photo

Ramsay was in town April 10 to address the Inuvik Chamber of Commerce with a regional economic update. Prior to the meeting, he took time to meet with Inuvik Drum for a wide-ranging interview.

"I'm up here for a variety of reasons," Ramsay said. "I'm meeting with the Gwich'in Tribal Council and the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, and I'm speaking to the Inuvik Chamber of Commerce at their function tonight.

"I'm looking forward to touching base with the business community here in the Beaufort Delta and in Inuvik, and talking about what the future looks like for the NWT and in this region," Ramsay continued.

The member of the territorial government's executive council said he is confident that brighter days are ahead for the Inuvik economy, which has been suffering through the "bust" part of its traditional "boom and bust" economy, although he was somewhat short on specifics.

"We anticipate a period of strong economic performance for this region, and that bodes very well for NWT residents here and across the North," he said. "We need to find a way to continue to work together. There's opportunity here, we have to seize that opportunity.

"I'm going to talk about the economy, about the opportunities in the region and the town," he said. "We were partners with the town on the recent economic review it did. For our government, these regional economic reviews are something that we've supported."

The GNWT is now preparing regional economic development reviews and plans for every community in the Delta, Ramsay said, with Inuvik's being the initial project.

"We really need to diversify the economy here," he said, pointing to the major conclusion of the review. "And I think we've got some things lining up that are going to allow us to do that."

As examples, he pointed to the establishment of the new petroleum resources division of the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment in town, with nine new department positions, the construction of the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk highway, as well as the Mackenzie Valley Fibre-optic Line that is now being built, and the expanding satellite stations.

"We've got some countries here (at the satellite station) but I think many more will come with millions of dollars spent in the local economy," he said. "The Japanese are very much interested.

"We also see a very bright future for the Inuvik greenhouse, as a robust contributor to the local and, hopefully, regional economy, by providing not only as a source of lower-cost food, but also emerging as a regional centre of knowledge and excellence in the production of food and diversifying the economy."

Ramsay also spoke of the GNWT's development of a "stand-alone oil and gas development policy," once which would help harness "the territory's vast energy potential that will have significant benefits for the region."

Ramsay talked as well of the territorial initiatives to help convince more people to come and settle in the North, as well as plugging the population that is starting to drain away, particularly in places like Inuvik.

"The cost of living is always an issue that comes to the forefront for people when they think of leaving," he said. "I think it's incumbent on the government to come up with ways to address the cost of living. We've done a number of things, but my belief is that there are other things out there that we can be looking at. There's an election coming up this fall, and I think you'll see that be one of key issues."

"What are those ideas that can attract people here, and keep people here in the territory? We're working with industry continuously to attract people to work here, but at the end of the day you can't force someone to live somewhere."

Chamber president Bright Lubansa thanked Ramsay and the town for "working so hard to create an economic plan for the town."

"What this does is to give us priorities that we can focus our energy on in the development of our economy," Lubansa said.

Inuvik Mayor Floyd Roland agreed with the diversification strategy, and said "the government is a key piece to the community, but it shouldn't be the only real driver."

"The government needs to be part of the economy. While it can't be the engine of the economy, it has to supply the fuel," Roland said.

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