Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Tourism is big business in the north, in fact, it is the third biggest employer and revenue generator behind mining and government. In the western Arctic, several thousand people are employed either part-time or full-time in tourism. At present the NWT receive about 60,000 visitors each year who inject upwards of $55 million into the economy. I attended part of the AGM of Western Arctic Tourism Association's annual meeting held recently here in Yellowknife where the association unveiled its 1998-99 business plan and its tourism strategy document. The association has done a lot of valuable work in response to RWED Minister Kakfwi's direction to the association. The association strategy document has six key objectives:

- to create and build a new identity for the NWT;

- develop a representative, balanced membership base;

- provide support for member's marketing initiatives

- improve market access to community-based and members' products

- provide market research and analyses to keep northern companies abreast of trends;

- maintain a dynamic partnership

Western Arctic Tourism Association's President, Shaunet McNeil and its executive director, Eric Yaxley, have stated that underlying the six objectives identified in the strategy document are some fundamental concerns, which are:

That funding support for the GNWT be maintained.

- McNeil points out that this funding is a resource for communities to build on and that any deterioration in the financial support from the government will directly affect the economic base of many operators and as a result the employment levels of community people.

- The industry needs reassurance that, as we get closer to division, the government address the concerns of image for the western Arctic.

- The association wants the government to have a greater focus on tourism and reinvest in the industry and its marketing efforts.

- These, I think, are vital as far as the industry is concerned. Now that the association has its act together, it is apparent the industry needs government support to take the next steps. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, recently the Department of Transportation committed to starting a highly publicized consultation process on drunk driving in the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, I applaud the department's efforts to deal with the drunk driving situation in the Northwest Territories. However, Mr. Speaker, it must be remembered that the only real power this government has is that it can change the licensing requirements for drivers in the NWT. This means that after a conviction on drunk driving, your licence could be revoked for a longer period of time and possibly permanently under the new proposals.

I fully support this government initiative, Mr. Speaker, however, I strongly believe that to change old habits and attitudes about drunk driving, there has to be an effective educational component to any program the department develops.

Increased penalties and consequences for drunk driving are important. However, Mr. Speaker, we cannot develop an effective anti-drunk driving campaign in isolation. We have to involve the community, we have to get to the kids in school and warn them of the dangers of drunk driving and we have to make it socially acceptable to take the keys away from friends, family or anyone should they wish to drive impaired.

Mr. Speaker, the police need to be supported in the fight against impaired driving. If you see someone driving drunk, you have a responsibility to your fellow residents in your community to report this person to the police. More and more people are now reporting drunk drivers and we need to encourage this through programs such as Crime Stoppers.

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to the day when drunk driving is a thing of the past, to when society's attitudes have changed and people who drive impaired would be viewed as socially inappropriate and legally put in the same category of people in public places wielding or pointing lethal loaded weapons at each other. Drunk drivers potentially use their vehicles as lethal weapons which do maim and kill people.

It looks, Mr. Speaker, like the Department of Transportation has made a good start. I commend the Minister and his staff for this initiative. I look forward to the legislative proposal that will come out of this consultation process. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize a constituent from Sachs Harbour, Mrs. Sheila Nasogaluak, the wife of a well-known carver, Eli Nasogaluak, and she is here for a wildlife harvester workshop. Thank you.

--Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Ian MacDonald, he is with the Gwich'in Human Resource Council. Welcome Ian.

--Applause