We’re on page 12-26, activity summary, tourism and parks, grants and contributions, contributions, $4.386 million.

Moving on to page 12-27, information item, tourism and parks, active positions. Mr. Krutko.

Again, I’d like, if it’s possible, to get from the Minister a breakdown by way of P1s, P2s, P3s and anyone that may be working with the tourism and parks with a disability.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Minister McLeod.

Thank you. We have that information and we will provide it to the Member.

Page 12-27, information item, tourism and parks.

Page 12-29, economic diversification and business support, activity summary, operations expenditure summary, $17.824 million. Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just wonder if I could get a breakdown of the $3.5 million earmarked for the NWT Business Development Investment Corporation. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Minister McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That is the amount of the contribution that the government makes available to the Business Development Investment Corporation budget. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Does the Minister have a breakdown of what that $3.5 million is used for?

The BDIC prepares a corporate plan that we table in the Legislative Assembly on an annual basis. We don’t have their corporate plan yet for 2009-10. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

What percentage or an estimate of that $3.5 million, how much of that would go to salaries and benefits for employees? How many employees are currently with the BDIC?

There are presently 15 employees with the BDIC. Thank you.

That would mean probably about $1.5 million on salaries and benefits or is it a little bit more than that? It’s probably closer to $2 million, but could I get that verified by the Minister. Thank you.

We can make the 2008-2009 corporate plan available to the Member. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Does the Minister know when the new corporate plan is going to be available? Thank you.

I expect it to be available for the June session. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Krutko.

Mr. Chair, I’d like to ask the Minister questions about the potential for outfitter business licences to be relinquished to aboriginal First Nations. There are agreements in place with the outfitters in the Mackenzie Mountains and also in the Arctic Red River Outfitters that if they’re going to basically sell off any of their licences they have to give first right of refusal to the Gwich’in or Sahtu claim organizations. Presently they are looking at the potential of buying out the licences, especially for the Arctic Red River Outfitters. I’d just like to ask, does the government have any resources or support dollars so that organizations

such as the First Nations groups can purchase out these licences or work to develop a business case in regard to the value of that asset and, more importantly, just to be able to have the resources to take over such a thriving business opportunity?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Minister McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We don’t have a business program specifically identified to assist aboriginal governments to take over outfitter businesses. We do have business loan programs. The BDIC lends up to $2 million and we have business officers, economic development officers, available to work with the organizations or business that would be interested in taking over these outfitter licences. Thank you, Mr. Chair.