A northern Ontario think tank is pleased with progress made in making sure Indigenous people in the north make the same income as non-Indigenous people.
President of the Northern Policy Institute Charles Cirtwell gives some of the credit to various levels of government.
“We’ve got the federal government investing in on-reserve services, health care investments. Trying to improve housing… even the water quality changes make a significant change in your quality of life and your ability to focus on what comes next.”
The Institute President wishes it would move faster but notes large scale geography keeps everyone far apart.
“That means it costs more. It costs more to get people road access so they can access health and education services. It costs more to deliver education programs; it costs more to deliver health.”
The think tank’s President adds solving this income gap is a multi-year, multi-million dollar investment, much of it done by government.
He’s feeling quite optimistic the trend will continue, especially for women.
“Even in Thunder Bay, Indigenous females are making about 78% of the total female population, where men are considerably lower than that, we’re talking in the low 70’s.”
The Institute President adds the numbers further east, such as in Sudbury, are even better for Indigenous people.
