Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would also like to thank the Minister for the grand opening of our carvers and print shop in Ulukhaktok. I think it’s going to be a big success for the community, the region and for the Territory in selling our quality prints and carvings.
Highlights, especially in the report from Nunakput include the $350,000 in additional funding to support entrepreneurs and economic development in the SEED program, which we really need. The $1 million in Tourism 2015 program, the initiatives are attracting people to the Nunakput region to see our beautiful country up in where I’m from. The Small Communities Employment Program will support short-term job creation projects and skilled development in communities with low incomes. Looking forward to that. The $100,000 in additional funding to support food processing for commercial harvesting such as fish and meat. It will be good to see with our muskox meat that once the harvest is done, that it helps out not only selling it to the restaurants or in the marketplace, it helps out people in the communities as well. The $475,000 for the Community Harvesters Assistance Program amount almost doubles this year’s funding. With the contribution of the local wildlife committee who provided assistance, it now reaches a total of $1 million. We’re really looking forward to the extra funding.
The sport hunting market, the outfitters that are hurting from the ban from the U.S. pulling out of letting polar bears get on the endangered species list. I thank the Minister for all the hard work he’s done with me in regard to trying to get the European market to come hunt in the Nunakput
region. We’re working together now to get Jim Shockey -- he’s a big game outfitter -- to come and do infomercials in the market and hopefully by the end of April to visit all the Nunakput communities.
The biggest drivers of the cost of living in the Nunakput region, the budget shows that the $1 million for residual heat in four communities including Ulukhaktok, we really need that. We’re thankful. Continued implementation on the GNWT Energy Plan includes investments in the Arctic Energy Alliance, which they’re a big help. Energy Efficiency Initiative Incentive Program, EnerGuide houses, EnerGuide information and awareness. Other investments are also being made in the energy efficiency initiatives and alternative energy sources, which I think is going to be good to see in the smaller communities. The $150,000 to support community energy plans in the communities are needed for the hamlets and private business people to try to succeed in business in the smaller communities. Business Support Program, business marketing changes in the operations and improved energy efficiency. One of the biggest ones is the wind energy supply in Tuk and Ulukhaktok. We’re looking forward to that. Also, the budget energy management specialist under the GNWT Energy Plan, we’re looking forward to that as well.
I always like to say, you know, in Nunakput we have basically all the oil and gas in the NWT. We’re resource rich and cash poor. Hopefully, with the pipeline going through and all the hard work that the Premier and the Minister are working towards getting the pipeline put through and the offshore exploration that’s going to happen with that and the job creation. Last month I was in Tuk and they’re talking LNG plant for Tuk. That’s looking really good and positive. Making Tuk a deep sea port to cut sailing time and drop the cost of living in Tuk and across the Nunakput communities that we represent. I think, with everything that’s going on, we’re going the right way.
I would just like to thank, again, the Minister for all the hard work he’s done with me and my office to provide services to Nunakput. Thank you and I look forward to page by page. Thank you.