Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Honourable Brendan Bell, the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment and Justice, his staff and I visited Tuktoyaktuk, Sachs Harbour and Ulukhaktok in July 2006. In Ulukhaktok we had an opportunity to meet with the hamlet council and members of the arts and crafts committee. We also had an opportunity to tour the Ulukhaktok Co-operative arts and crafts shop.
Mr. Speaker, the local artists in Ulukhaktok are well known for their sealskin sewing, but, more importantly, the artistic value in printmaking. The last number of years the local artists have stopped printmaking because of the condition of the building and the printmaking equipment. During the tour, it was visible the printmaking shop needs a lot of repair to make it viable for the artists to do what they love doing: printmaking, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, since the tour, I'm happy to report that there has been some repairs done to the building, more specifically related to the water and sewer tank repairs and heating system of the Ulukhaktok Co-operative arts and crafts shop. These repairs were paid for by BDIC. The community is very happy with these minor repairs to the centre to date. I thank the Minister and his staff, the department, for finding the funds to do these minor repairs.
Mr. Speaker, I understand that the Economic Development in Inuvik continues to work with the arts and crafts committee in Ulukhaktok to find funds to complete the repairs of the printmaking shop. Mr. Speaker, I am in support of the completion of this project and would encourage the Minister to find the appropriate funds to complete the renovations to the arts and crafts shop. By completing the repairs to the building and printmaking shop, it will bring employment for the people. Employment is scarce in the community; therefore, completing the printmaking shop will bring a much needed economic base for the people of Ulukhaktok. More importantly, it will once again recognize artists for what they can do to become world-renowned printmakers. In closing, I will have questions for the Minister of ITI at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause
