Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I have worked extremely hard to avoid taking questions as notice. Unfortunately, yesterday Mr. Lewis stumped me with respect to status of interpretive centre, Prelude Lake.
Madam Speaker, based upon the 1990 master plan, a significant amount of work has been done at the Prelude Lake Park. The 1995-96 season is the fifth year of a seven-year upgrading program. It should be noted that the park has not had a major renovation since it was established.
The park land is bisected by many cottages. To work effectively, the park needs to have its system of roads altered in order to separate the cottages from tourists. Doing this will allow for a larger campground which will take some of the pressure off facilities in the Fred Henne Park. In addition, safety will be improved as the campground will no longer be the main traffic route through the park.
To date, interpretive signs have been placed along the nature trail, walking trails established, a parking lot for trailers created for those using the boat launch, the playground has been refurbished, new signs put up, new conveniences established, new campsites created, fencing installed and a new picnic area built. Environmental restoration has also been undertaken.
In the remaining years of the program, we will see the expansion of the campground, a new day use area established and the road system realigned. The plan to redevelop the park does not include, nor has it ever included, the establishment of an interpretive centre, only interpretive signage.
Prelude Lake Park is the second most heavily used park in the North Slave region. Park use increased by 10 per cent between 1992 and 1993. The 1994 season shows a similar increase. Residents and tourists have had to be turned away. Expanded facilities are required.
Madam Speaker, it should be noted that 90 per cent to 100 per cent of the construction contracts have been awarded to NWT companies and most of the design work has been done by northern firms. All design and construction work in the future will go to Northwest Territories companies. Thank you.
---Applause