Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would just like to ask a couple of questions relating to Mr. Braden's questions. We know that in the Northwest Territories our economic backbone is going to be resource development. Minerals, oil and gas is going to be a big part of that, but the word industry comes to mind.
When I say industry, I am talking about the tourism industry. I am talking about the trapping industry. I am talking about the forestry industry. I am talking about the fisheries industry. Right now what I am seeing is dual Ministerial responsibilities in this area. Where you have one Minister responsible for diamonds, another Minister responsible for oil and gas. It is kind of confusing. I have a hard time picturing what processes are available within the government. If I am having a hard time, imagine how the average Joe out there in the communities will fare.
But if we are going to convince the aboriginal governments and the federal governments that resource development responsibilities are to be transferred to the Government of the Northwest Territories, I think we are going to have to do a better job at informing people about what we do. For that reason, I think that we should really consider having a stand-alone department to deal with this. If we are going to develop the resources in a responsible way, then we are going to have to let people know how it is going to be done, where it is going to be done, the rules and regulations.
The biggest stigma that is on the Northwest Territories right now is regulatory regime, and what kind of influence do we have on the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act to ensure that there is a clear, consistent route that investors could take in getting permits for resource development to happen. I do not see that.
Would the government consider establishing such a department where their concentration is for the management of resource development and industry separate from environmental protection? Environmental protection is very important to everyone in the Northwest Territories, including developers. But to try to do both under one umbrella sends mixed signals. So my question is, would the government consider creating a department solely for industry, the backbone of our financial future? Thank you.