Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Nunavut turns 10

The territory of Nunavut was created on April 1, 1999.

Ten years on, Canada's youngest territory remains plagued by woeful levels of educational achievement, substance abuse, and dysfunctional families, despite federal transfers that average to more than $32 000 per head.

Is another jurisdiction in the world that better proves that the size of government is not positively correlated with development?

I'm being harsh. But that's precisely why this is a very Canadian problem: Canadians find it very difficult to be harsh. The culture in Nunavut is in dire need of a shakeup, and that doesn't go over well with the cultural relativists. Many Canadians graduated from the Rick Wagoner school of management: sound reasonable, look reasonable, compromise, look for the solution that satisfies all stake holders (which special sensitivity to the less advantaged), try to get along with everyone. In other words, stick one's hand in the sand until the world overwhelms.

No comments: