Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is addressed to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment and it is in regard to the re-structuring of the DEA in Fort Smith. The Minister commented in Inuvik at the Beaufort Delta Leaders meeting as an example, that he was very close to signing off this agreement. Can the Minister give a time-frame as to when he anticipates that agreement will be signed off? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Member indicated in his statement this morning there has been a fair amount of time spent on this issue, and a good deal of consultation. I have been pretty well satisfied that the request put forward by the community is one that I can concur with. It is my intention to sign the order as soon as I am satisfied that we have a clear understanding of the transition from the currently elected board and the board that would be appointed to replace it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Could the Minister indicate in the general sense whether there is a legal necessity to run out the terms of the current board or is there another arrangement that can be made?

I am sorry, Mr. Speaker, I am going to have to take that question as notice.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for Mr. Kakfwi, the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. It concerns the statement I made last week on tourism for the Northwest Territories, and I pointed out at that time that the association has made tremendous progress in their development as an association. Their funding was cut to $540,000, yet they have shown tourism visitation has not come down in the territories and that to me shows efficiency and that they are on track. Their request is to have funding increased to $1.2 million in the first year and then $2.2 million in the next year. Tourism is the third highest GDP producer in the territories with some $40 million in the western Arctic. I wonder if the Minister would consider their request to increase their funding in the coming years? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have been trying to be supportive of this new association over the last couple of years. We have indicated to the association that they should finalize their plans to hire a new executive director as soon as possible because they presently have the services of an employee of this government. There is uncertainty as to how long, if at all, that this arrangement would continue.

We have also indicated to the association that we would like to receive from them a strategic marketing plan that would tell us what it is that they want to do in order to promote the western Northwest Territories as a destination for tourists both nationally and internationally. They have indicated that they will be working on that over the next few months and prepare that for presentation to me some time this fall. We have also indicated to them that they should seek to have input into the economic development strategy that is being currently developed by the Minister of Finance. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It was my understanding that the organization did prepare a business plan and strategic plan for the coming years. One of the areas of concern to the association was the areas that they need to come to agreement on with specific roles. For example, where RWED would maintain strategic planning, research, licensing functions and so forth, the association would take control of media relations and travel shows, etc. Will the Minister also address that particular issue with the association, of clarifying who will be responsible for what areas? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are intending to clarify the roles that the association has in relation to the officials within the department responsible for tourism. It is an item of business that we will be working on with the association. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Going back to the question of funding, the Minister did not answer my question as to whether he would consider additional funding for the association. We are coming close to business plans, I wonder if he will consider increasing their funding. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have indicated that we require a comprehensive marketing plan, marketing strategy, between the association and our department, and that all the resources that are available would be looked at once we determine how viable and realistic the strategy would be. We are trying to take a positive outlook on something that has not yet been formulated. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister indicated that it will take several months for this, I believe it was a marketing plan to be completed, and that means for next year the funding in the business plans will not be allocated. I wonder if the Minister will consider providing more funding next year for the tourism association? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, we try to plan our work in accordance with the budget planning process as much as we can. There is some flexibility in the amounts of money that could be allocated as plans develop, but generally speaking, let us say that the earlier we get some indication of what type of resources would be required by this plan and marketing strategy, the more lead time I have, the easier it would be to identify any resources that might be available for such a plan. Thank you.