Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will keep my comments short. I just wanted to touch on a few things. I was kind of surprised to see, with all the activities that are going on in the North and all the big plans that we have for development, that tourism was the top priority out of the five priorities for this department for next year. I know it was a priority for the department, but I was surprised to see it at the top of the list.
I have the same problem with the tourism industry that I have with a lot of our other initiatives that we are taking to develop our North and open it up. If we have to fund it on the backs of our businesses and our residents, it gives me reason for concern. I think that we have to start raising money or getting more money from Ottawa to be able to spend large amounts of money in these areas. I think there is only so much that we will be able to do if we have to do it through taxes and raising money on the backs of our residents.
One of the big areas that the department is looking at is in the energy field. I see at the top of the list that the department will be examining options to develop an energy strategy, so we are still in the strategy business. I am hoping that we see some positive results coming out of that.
I have to mention my favourite that is in here -- the Arctic Energy Alliance to reduce costs and the environmental impact, energy and utility services.
-- Applause
One of the problems I have in this whole area is that we study greenhouse gases and one of the members of Arctic Energy Alliance, I think, is the Department of Public Works, as we talk about reducing greenhouse gases and cleaner sources of energy.
In Hay River, there is money being spent right now to convert buildings that are on propane, all hooked up for natural gas. They are piping and spending money on putting them back on diesel fuel. I just do not think that goes anywhere towards looking after greenhouse gases and getting us ready for the future and cleaner energy systems. Why that is, I am not really sure. I do not know if the Arctic Energy Alliance has anything to do with that.
With regard to the oil and gas sector, I see in the comments that the department has established three regional oil and gas positions to assist communities maximizing involvement in development. I am not sure where those positions are, but I would be interested in reconfirming where those three positions are in the oil and gas sector.
I would also like to get some information on one of the department's initiatives. They sponsored a series of human resource development programs and associated support services, contracts to aboriginal corporations to deliver forest inventory, several cultural activities. I know that the forest industry is kind of tied up. I do not know exactly what this means. I would like to get a bit more information on whether this is a whole new management body to look after the forest industry or NWT forests.
I do not have a problem if we do not want to do anything with the forest industry and just tie the whole thing up and wait until we are ready to do something with it. I do have a problem with the department when they help set up a business that needs forest products to succeed and lend the business money to get started up, and then shut them down by not giving them licences to cut trees and actually they go broke. I do not think that is a very good way for the department to operate. I know that in Hay River there are a couple of businesses that are going through some very hard times.
With regard to the NWT Business Development, the $1 million fund, I would be interested in finding out where that money is going to be administered from, if it is going to be administered at headquarters or if it is going out to regions. Those are just some of the areas I have some questions in out of the Minister's opening remarks. I will have more questions as we go through the department. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.