Mr. Chairman, the split responsibility for this continues to leave me and I think this Assembly with a bit of a dilemma over when there are issues of policy or resources or funding. Just where do we go when there is an arts and culture question? Like I said, I have criticisms, I have concerns about the level and support we're giving to arts and cultural events and initiatives in the NWT, but as the Minister has explained quite rightly there is a shared responsibility here. I don't quite know where to take my argument. Perhaps it's one that belongs in a different venue and not one that is just restricted to one department.
I won't harp on it, but I will outline very briefly, Mr. Chairman, an issue that I have with the new Arts Strategy and that it doesn't identify festivals and events as a key outlet or a key venue for the exhibit and preservation and demonstration of northern culture. It leaves volunteer organizations scrambling about where to go and how to direct their work when it comes to seeing what the GNWT can do for them.
There is a potential tourism impact in any festival and event that we have. Is there a pocket developed here within parks and tourism for potential contribution to a festival or an event? Is there some other program that people go to? It's quite nebulous here and as the Minister described there's $75,000 in the Industry, Tourism and Investment department, but it's directed solely to the procurement of materials for artisans. Where are all the other potential benefits and requirements for this very vital and, right now, rather fragile part of our whole arts and culture strategy? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.