Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I apologize but I do not understand. Does that mean the project has been deferred? I am not familiar with the term reduced. Does that mean it has been bumped?

It is my understanding that the only way the campground can be expanded is to go to the opposite side of the road. I am not clear as to what the answer was.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just have a couple more questions. In regards to Mr. Elliott, the diamond industry consultant, could the Minister clarify the $225,000 for the year? Is that a retainer? If he actually does any work, is there a charge over and above that, or does that cover whatever labour he may do for us as well?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think there is some interest in Mr. Elliott, so I think we will prepare an information item for some Members that could give some idea as to why the retainer is of the amount. My understanding of it is that we know what the going rate is with people in this business, with people with certain credentials and standing in the business community. We will also provide a summary of the type of work and services that are provided by this gentleman. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So the Minister is asking for us to agree to give him the money and then he will explain later after we have committed it to the actual particulars. Is that what he is suggesting?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Not at all. The Legislature has already approved this in a prior year. It is an ongoing contract and a retainer that was approved previously. Mr. Elliott has been on a retainer with us. We are saying that the contract has been worthwhile. It is the view of the department that we have to keep current and abreast of developments in the diamond industry. That in order to move and speak with confidence, we need to be advised by someone who knows what is going on, and advises us in how we should be talking and who we should see, the events and conferences we should know about and make sure we are invited to.

For instance, the recent international conference. That did not just happen by accident. There has been a lot of work done. For the first time, we were invited to speak for Canada, by the industry, about diamonds. These types of things have a value and a significance that is hard to rationalize.

My advice to the Member is that he should see it as a very good investment. The fact is, through advice from Mr. Elliott and other people that he has introduced us to, while it does not produce anything for Fort Smith, it has produced something for Yellowknife, for the Yellowknives, for the Dogribs, for people who are benefiting from the significant progress and developments that we have been able to achieve in regards to value-added activities around diamonds. We will continue to retain the services of Mr. Elliott because we are by no means done.

We will continue to do work. We need advice in doing business with BHP and Diavik. We need to continue dealing with people like Aber Resources and Sirius Diamonds and Deton Diamonds, as well as other international diamondeers. We do need an advisor. Mr. Elliott is a well-established, well-known credible diamondeer.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So, to be clear, the Minister is at least somewhat conversant with this gentleman. So let me ask again, is it a $225,000 retainer? Is that the full cost? If he does actual work for us, does he get money over and above that $225,000? I am a big fan of investments and strategic investments and all of that other good stuff, and, unlike the Minister, I am still hopeful that there will be benefits from diamonds in my constituency as well. As a legislator, being responsible for the expenditure of public funds, when we are spending a quarter of a million dollars, I would like to have a clear sense of the cost. I do not think that is an unreasonable request. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The amount shown is the full cost of the contract. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That was not too hard at all. I have a question about tourism and marketing for $488,000. Back in the 12th Assembly, the government made a decision, a relatively unilateral decision, that they were going to centralize the functions of tourism and marketing into two operations. One in Yellowknife and one in the east, I think it was Rankin.

The people in the South Slave, I know, find this particular arrangement very unsatisfactory. I have raised this a matter in the House a number of times, the need to look at, now especially as we are a freestanding Territory, being able to support the regional tourism associations. To, in fact, get some on-the-ground tourism support in the regions, and not just have it in Yellowknife, where they will periodically venture out into the regions.

I would like to ask the Minister, in his capacity as being responsible for this particular department, are they prepared to look at that? Have they had any discussions? I know that the Big River Travel Association, has held meetings on their own, on ways that they can look ahead. I agree with them that this current arrangement is not satisfactory, if we are looking at decentralizing and recognizing the regional interests in tourism. I would appreciate the Minister's feedback on that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. There is a tourism strategy that is presently being developed and it should become available in the next couple of months. I think that will address the issue that the Member is raising. It has been raised by a number of people over the last couple of years. Hopefully, the tourism strategy should help us focus on that particular issue. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Is the Minister saying that there is going to be a move away from the highly centralized Northwest Territories Arctic Tourism to a more regionalized approach again? How it is going to be done? Is it going to be defined in the strategy? Or is he just saying that it may be referenced, but we are going to keep on with the same old, same old? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We are trying to get advice from the private sector and from governments on what is the best strategy to engage in and develop tourism. All I am saying is that we tried a regional based approach for a number of years, and it did not seem to be going anywhere. We then centralized. The merits of that remain to be seen.

Hopefully, we will get advice from the tourism strategy that is currently being developed as to what should the approach of this government be. I am not suggesting that any particular approach is the best. I am mainly interested in hearing what the advice will be. Thank you.