Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is in response to a question asked by Mr. Krutko on March 26th regarding difficulties marketing NWT arts and crafts.

The Government of the Northwest Territories, through the Northwest Territories Development Corporation, operates 22 companies including the Fort McPherson Canvas Shop and the Aklavik Fur Shop. There are no individual marketing plans for these subsidiaries because each is too small to absorb the high overhead costs. To solve this problem, a company known as Arctic Canada Wholesale Ltd. was set up as the marketing arm for the light manufacturing and arts and crafts subsidiary companies.

Arctic Canada Wholesale is the key to success for all the arts and crafts subsidiary companies. Although Arctic Canada Wholesale got off to a slow start as funding was severely limited, solutions are being identified and a restructuring plan and comprehensive marketing strategy will be developed.

With respect to the purchase of products made by crafters, the corporation has six agents buying homemade crafts for resale. If individuals are interested in selling to the corporation, they should contact the president or departmental staff who will refer them to the Development Corporation.

The marketing of arts and crafts has been identified as an issue in the business plan developed by the Department of Economic Development and Tourism. The department will be working with all major wholesalers, including Arctic Canada Wholesale, to develop a strategy to increase sales of northern arts and craft within and outside Canada.

In the preface to this question, the Member's comments in relation to a newspaper column on the craft show in Inuvik may have left the impression that the Government of the Northwest Territories was responsible for events in Inuvik. The show was organized by an Inuvik business person under contract to the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. Staff in the Department of Economic Development and Tourism provided the contractor with some assistance, but were not responsible for the organization of the event and did not provide any funding. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.