Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased today to speak about the economic contribution of one sector of the tourism industry, and that is outfitters who conduct barrenland hunts for visitors to the Northwest Territories.
Members will have received a covering letter and report from Jim Peterson, president of the Northwest Territories Barren-Ground Caribou Outfitters Association just recently, Mr. Speaker. I would like to highlight a few comments from his correspondence and the report entitled Economic Benefits of Outfitted Hunts for Barren-Ground Caribou in the NWT, produced by the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development.
Big game outfitting is a growing business sector that creates jobs, earns foreign currency and contributes to the overall health of the Northwest Territories. This new study indicates that since the barren-ground outfitting industry was created in 1982, it has grown from five operators to 11 today.
In 1993, Mr. Speaker, the industry generated $1.92 million. Today, it has generated an estimated $3.13 million in 1999. Members provided hunts for 595 non-resident hunters and a harvest of 921 caribou. On this basis, Mr. Speaker, each caribou allocated to outfitting was worth $3,400 to the Northwest Territories GDP and each hunter contributed $5,300 to our economy.
Other significant benefits include some 880 weeks of employment, half of which accrues to communities outside of Yellowknife. As well, 57 percent of the meat goes to Northwest Territories communities.
Mr. Speaker, I am encouraged and optimistic with the successful steps being made toward the implementation of the Dogrib self-government agreements. There have been some issues in the past, Mr. Speaker, in terms of resolving the interests of the tourism operators, including the barren-ground caribou outfitters in this region. I understand that progress is being made through improved consultation, communication and trust between the parties, Mr. Speaker. I look forward to a satisfactory resolution of the issue. It is incumbent upon this government to make sure it takes forth its responsibility to recognize the interests of the broad public in negotiations. I think this is an example where progress is being made. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
-- Applause