Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question today is for the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism with regard to marketing of products which are presently run and operated by the government, especially with regard to the Fort McPherson Canvas Shop where the bags that they produce and other items are pretty well-known; also, the Aklavik Fur Shop which presently produces fur items such as fur hats, coats and other things. I've been hounded by an individual from southern Canada, who is looking at the possibility of marketing a lot of these products in the United States to large companies such as Wal-Mart and other companies which deal with the marketing of products. He seems to be having a real problem with the department's staff here in Yellowknife, especially in the area of marketing. Could the Minister assist me in this area, to see exactly what the problem is with marketing? Do they have a strategy in place for how they market these products today? It is a Government of the Northwest Territories product which is produced through the different corporations or established under the government.
Also with regard to an article I read by Cece McCauley on the selling of crafts in which the government seemed to have a real problem with running a craft shop. Also, marketing of handicrafts such as this coat which was made in Mr. Kakfwi's riding by Judy Lafferty, and other ladies up and down the valley who make an effort to sew in their own time and sell these products; what the possibility of generating employment would be by marketing this stuff in the Northwest Territories, southern Canada and wherever the market is. I see that there has been a real initiative made by the department to look into that. If the Minister can respond to my question of do they have a marketing strategy in place and how are they implementing it.