Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Standing Committee on Finance review of the 1995-96 capital estimates on the Department of Economic Development and Tourism start off with tourism and parks.
Tourism And Parks
The standing committee held its first week of hearings in Iqaluit. During that time, committee Members were able to see the NWT's newest territorial park, Katannilik Park, on southern Baffin Island. Not only did Members have a chance to see the park itself, and the facilities available to those using the park, they also met with the Lake Harbour hamlet council and tourism committee, and discussed the benefits expected by the community from the investment in the park.
This park is an example of how careful investment can result in greatly multiplied economic benefit to northerners. The tourist spending has greatly exceeded GNWT spending on the park, and the benefits in jobs and economic activity for the area are obvious. This objective was the basis of last year's recommendation to the department in the committee's review of the capital estimates.
Following last year's recommendation, the committee was pleased to see a comprehensive cost/benefit analysis of the department's tourism and parks program, and of specific projects. Not only that, but committee Members were especially impressed that conclusions from this initial analysis were indeed being used to guide the department's capital spending. Analysis of benefits from investment in Katannilik Park, in campgrounds in the western NWT, and in gateway visitor centres at the 60th parallel and in Dawson City, Yukon, have been used to guide and redirect departmental spending.
The sole complaint of the committee was that the analysis was very difficult to understand. While departmental officials may well find the analysis useful in its present form, committee Members and their staff found it hard to quickly digest and analyze the information as presented. Members look forward to seeing a more understandable version of the analysis, as promised by the Minister.
Country Foods
Committee Members raised earlier comments about the use of country foods by NWT institutions. Members recognize that, for institutions such as Stanton Yellowknife Hospital or the Yellowknife Correctional Centre, buying caribou or char would be more expensive than buying beef or tuna. However, the government has to consider not only the economic benefit to northerners of encouraging and supporting the development of a country food sector, but also the social well-being of those confined to such institutions who would likely prefer to have access to food with which they are familiar.
Recommendation 2
The Standing Committee on Finance recommends that the Department of Economic Development and Tourism take the lead in developing a policy that would encourage and enable government institutions such as hospitals and correctional centres to purchase and serve more northern foods.
NWT Development Corporation
The budget for the NWT Development Corporation was listed under this department. However, very little detail was provided. Committee Members would not only like to see details of planned investments and expenditures by the corporation, but also want to see the corporation's corporate plan. It is important that the committee have the opportunity to examine the corporation's activities and compare them to past results. The Minister promised to provide appropriate data as soon as it was available, and to table the corporate plan in the House. As such, Members will discuss issues related to the Development Corporation with the Minister in the House.
Mr. Chairman, I have a motion.