Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about one of the best renewable resources we have in the Northwest Territories, that being tourism. Mr. Speaker, according to Economic Development and Tourism figures, between May and September last summer, 48,000 tourists spent over $51 million in the Northwest Territories; and that doesn't include the cost of them coming here, that's
actually money that was spent while they were here in the north.
Further, Mr. Speaker, it's estimated that at least $10 million from tourists was left in the territories over the past winter, including the trips to see the northern lights taken by 1,100 people from Japan.
Mr. Speaker, there are approximately 230 NWT businesses which cater to visitors: hotels; beds and breakfasts; fishing lodges; and, one I would specifically like to talk about in more detail today, outfitters. Outfitters are significant contributors to the NWT economy. Most northerners are touched to some degree by the effects of outfitting businesses, because for every dollar of income paid directly to owners and employees of an outfitting business, another 20 cents is generated in the supplier and consumer industries.
In terms of employment, for every person week of direct employment in the caribou outfitting industry, for example, another three work days are generated in supplier and consumer industries.
Mr. Speaker, a lot of people don't know exactly what an outfitter is. An outfitter provides the complete hunting experience, supplying necessary equipment and employing licensed guides to accompany the hunter. Mr. Speaker, like most small businesses in the NWT, these are usually family operations that develop, market and deliver their NWT adventure products to hundreds of visitors each year. An outfitter must be a jack of all trades because they have to be a mechanic, a plumber, a carpenter, an electrician, a problem solver and sometimes a counsellor, just to name a few.
With the new gun control act, they may also have to employ psychiatrists to make sure that people who borrow the firearms from the company are of sound mind.
---Applause
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.