Thank you, Mr. Speaker and honourable Members. Mr. Speaker, an extensive financial investment and time commitment is required to run an outfitting business. An average day is generally about 16 hours long, and a seven-day week is needed for the duration of a camp which includes setting up and tearing down. Of course, the guides are the hardest workers of all in an outfitting business. All of them, Mr. Speaker, have a significant capital investment in the north, with the average being over $300,000 in their business.
So, Mr. Speaker, there is an awful lot of employment and spin-off employment provided through this business, and all of the revenue is export or new revenue. It's new money into the NWT, not merely recirculated government money, it is new money coming in from outside.
Mr. Speaker, it's important to remember that tourism serves as a bridge between the Northwest Territories and the rest of the world, because it helps promote us as a world-class destination. We cannot afford to lose economic benefits that the tourism industry brings to us, and we must remember than an investment in tourism is an investment in our future.