Mr. Speaker, I will undertake to do that. Again, I have to say that I am not sure that the Northwest Territories Tourism Association breaks out their budget that way. I may be able to give you an estimate, but exactly what you would consider as advertising, what you would not include in that category, I am not sure they are definitely the same as Mr. Bell's might be. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Handley. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question goes to Minister of Finance on the issue of the hotel tax. He mentioned in his responses to the Member for Yellowknife South that he has a lot of time to work out all the kinks. However, I will say that given the answers that he has been providing us with today, he is really not working with a lot of information at all.

Mr. Speaker, I wonder if the Minister could confirm to us that there is no transportation strategy at the moment with the department?

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister responsible for Finance, Mr. Handley.

I think Ms. Lee mentioned a transportation strategy? I do not know. I assume there is.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. I was not sure that I understood that. Ms. Lee, would you clarify please?

My apologies Mr. Speaker, I must be thinking about two things at the same time. I wonder if the Minister could confirm whether or not his department has a tourism strategy? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Handley, a tourism strategy.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there currently is a tourism business plan. I do not know if it is specifically called a strategy, but there certainly is a tourism plan. The Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development is working on a comprehensive tourism strategy. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Handley. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The strategy that he is talking about, has he taken that out to the general public for consultation, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Ms. Lee. I think you said a plan, not a strategy, but the Minister responsible for Finance may answer.

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development has been working closely with the tourism industry and with the Northwest Territories Tourism Association. Has the particular document that I have seen in draft gone out for consultation? I do not know. Keep in mind though that we are doing one in the department and the Northwest Territories Tourism Association is also doing one. We have to have a matching of those two in order to have a comprehensive tourism strategy for the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Handley. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My point of this question is when the Minister appeared before the standing committee, he showed us something that looked like a strategy, but it really was not. It was an internal document that was prepared by the department. It really has not gone out to a wider consultation.

I have talked to the industry people who feel that in order for us to really have an effective tourism strategy, it should be done by a third party. What I am saying is, we do not even have an effective tourism strategy, and now the Minister is proposing a hotel tax. It is not making any sense at all, Mr. Speaker.

My question is, and I am saying that it is really unreasonable for him. I mean, look at our schedule here.

-- Interjection

Pardon me, Ms. Lee. You are on a supplementary. Could you ask a question? You have had a lot of preamble.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Is it not totally unreasonable for him to think that in the next few months, he is going to accomplish a strategy, work out all the kinks on this hotel tax and have everything in place by April 1st?

-- Interjection

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The question?

Is it not unreasonable, yes or no?

Thank you. The honourable Minister responsible for Finance, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, no, I do not think it is completely unreasonable. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am wondering if the Minister of Finance can tell us whether or not, before jacking hotel prices through the roof, he would look at other jurisdictions to see exactly how high our hotel prices are already? Also, can he tell us whether or not this would dissuade further tourism? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. The honourable Minister responsible for Finance, Mr. Handley.