Thank you, Ms. Lee. Oral questions. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment. At the end of the last government, the Premier and the government conducted a trade mission to China. As the industry and tourism file falls under the Minister of ITI, I would like to begin by asking the Minister of ITI where the trip report is from that China trade mission, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Bob McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for that question. With regard to the trip to China, which I understand was very successful, the group that traveled to China met recently to report on their views on the benefits of the trip. There was some follow-up activity resulting from the visit. I am still waiting for a report on the trip. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I agree with the Minister; things like this are an important function of government. We should be reaching out and doing what we can for businesses and the tourism sector in the Northwest Territories to expand business opportunities. What I would like to ask is, who is writing the report and are we paying for the report to be produced? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My understanding is that government tourism staff accompanied the group that visited China and it will be that group that will be writing the report. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm just wondering if there is any reason why the Minister has mentioned the group has met recently. Is there any reason why that report is two and a half months after the fact and when exactly can we expect that report?

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My understanding is there were at least 12 people who went on the trip and it’s a matter of getting all of their different observations together and compiling a report. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Mr. Ramsay. Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Oral questions. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this is for the Health and Social Services Minister. Upon her visit to the Beaufort-Delta in the early new year, if she’d be kind enough to come to my constituents of Tuk and say hi.

---Laughter

Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a sneaking suspicion that I might have to say more than hi when I visit the community. I welcome any invitations from Members to visit their communities because I really

think it’s a good way to learn about issues, facilities and concerns of the people. I have travelled to every community except for two so far, but not as the Minister of Health. I think I’ve already overbooked myself, because I’m going to Fort Resolution in two weeks and Inuvik, but I’ll try to cover as many communities as possible around Inuvik. I don’t know if I can make it to Tuk, but I will look into that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Supplementary, Mr. Jacobson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would also invite the Minister, then, to come and visit all four of my communities in Nunakput upon her time availability in the new year.

Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would be happy to do that. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Oral questions. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Bob McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the honourable Member for that question. This is an area that the government has been looking at for some time and I’m also pleased to report that in the last government there were several initiatives that were looked at in terms of energy conservation and a number of projects that were undertaken with that exact purpose in mind. I think that there have been a number of energy strategies, as well. Looking at renewable energy, part of the problem has always been that they have never been able to come up with an example or where the costs have been lower than fossil fuel costs. Similarly, one of the, I think, the Wind Energy Conference that is looking at wind energy, I guess I hope one of the things that they’ll be

looking at is what do you do when the wind stops blowing and they’re relying on wind energy. But certainly I think it’s important to start looking at these alternative energies and planning ways to bring them into practice, because obviously reducing greenhouse gasses is a priority.

Thank you.