Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Working against the odds, our resident filmmakers have achieved world acclaim, publicity and tourism promotion through films produced in the NWT with examples like Mad Trapper, Ice Road Truckers and Buffalo Airways series, Aurora Borealis and One River, Two Shores.
Unfortunately, however, productions about the NWT are infrequent and predominantly produced by southern-based firms. The Time Keeper, the story of the Great Slave Railway in the 1960s, was shot in Quebec. Richard Van Camp's the Lesser Blessed will largely be filmed outside the NWT. Producers say production is too expensive here and there is little government support. CBC's North of 60 was shot entirely in Alberta.
Unlike us, Yukon provides a comprehensive web of programs to support local production, attract southern productions and market films. Nunavut's film art is known worldwide, thanks to a full film development corporation providing incentives and support including the development of animation.
Mr. Speaker, the recent economic review of the Northwest Territories does not even include a section quantifying the value of NWT film performance and fine art industries, giving figures only for the value of arts and crafts production. We need to begin gathering this data.
Data elsewhere shows we will find that spending a dollar in the film industry multiplies its spending far more than spending on large resource developments. To develop our industry, we need to understand it and work with NWT filmmakers to design programs of support. A market study, assessment of the resident industry and a development plan are first basic steps. Ms. France Benoit, a local filmmaker, reports that the NWT is the only jurisdiction in Canada that does not offer financial incentives to producers.
In summary, Mr. Speaker, the NWT needs to take a much more aggressive approach to supporting our resident filmmakers and attracting southern partners to enjoy the benefits we currently forego. I will be asking the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment questions later during this session. Mahsi.