Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to address the issue of tourism, in particular, in the Mackenzie Delta. As you may all be aware, Fort McPherson is the first community that is seen after travelling the Dempster Highway and the Yukon by tourists. The residents of Fort McPherson feel that they act as ambassadors for the rest of the Northwest Territories due to the impression that is left with tourists once they arrive. Mr. Speaker, I feel this matter has to receive the attention of this government, so that we do promote tourism, especially in the Mackenzie Delta region and when it comes to being ambassadors for the rest of the territories.
Mr. Speaker, the Mackenzie Delta seems to pale in regard to the amount of money that is being spent, especially from the Yukon government when it comes to tourism. In regard to our neighbours in the west, the Yukon spends in the range of $30 million on tourism a year and yet we are lagging when it comes to hosting people from other territories and other parts of the world. Mr. Speaker, the people in the Mackenzie Delta feel that an initiative such as hosting individuals through programs such as the Northern Most Host Workshops, additional tourism training dollars and initiatives to improve how to deal with tourists and how to access tourism dollars to assist in developing the tourism industry for the Mackenzie Delta.
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my constituents, I would like to ask this government if they cannot access more dollars for such an important initiative and look at the long term viability of this business and develop the appropriate infrastructure that is going to be needed to develop such an important industry. Mr. Speaker, I, for one, feel that this initiative is important enough that the Mackenzie Delta should receive its own tourism planning officer to work for the three Mackenzie Delta communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
--Applause