Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of the strongest selling points for the NWT tourism is our miles of untamed wilderness. In small but growing numbers people are coming from around the world to experience our clean air and open spaces, from the challenge of the Nahanni to the splendour of the Pangnirtung Pass. Some come in organized tours and stick to the beaten path. We also attract many adventurers looking for a new challenge.
Most of the time, there are no problems, however, each year people get stuck in the bush and/or out on the land. They get lost, hit bad weather, or have trouble with their equipment. Eventually, most people are found and recover from their experience. But when people get into trouble on the land, there are costs associated with finding them. A single search and rescue can cost thousands of dollars. As more tourists come north, the potential liability for search and rescue will increase.
Recently, I noticed an ad for a gadget called a Stat Find 406. This is a pocket-sized personal locator beacon. It is designed to work in the arctic conditions and sends a strong signal for accurate position location. Mr. Speaker, as a service this government could make these locators available for tourists to rent. They could be provided through our parks operators or through local RCMP detachments where many tourists already file their travel plans.
For a small fee we could provide tourists with a bit of insurance against this possible trouble. This small expenditure would give individuals some peace of mind about their personal safety if problems do come up. It would make it easier for us to locate those who do not come back when they are expected to. More importantly, this little gadget could reap savings in human lives and in reduced search and rescue costs. The pocket locator is a little thing which could be set off and be of great benefit to tourists and government alike. I hope the capable staff of the RWED department will take a look at this type of innovation which can make the NWT a more attractive place for tourism. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.