Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to direct my questions to the government today on behalf of the Patterson Sawmill in Hay River. This sawmill has been in existence for a number of years. It is not a huge company. It is a family-based business. They employ six full-time people. They have the ups and downs with issues with the size of the allowable timber cut being reduced, operating costs and, of course, the market price for the product that they harvest.
Pattersons want to stay in business. They’re the only business of this type in the Northwest Territories. We’re in the middle of a forest here in our part of the North and we would like to keep this business operational in Hay River. It’s extremely important to us. There are bright things on the horizon that may improve the fortunes of this company. How much money would we as a government spend to entice and induce a company
like this to come and set up in the North, and yet here’s a company that’s been here many, many years. They are asking for a postponement or abatement of the stumpage fees which they owe this government.
I would like to ask whoever wants to answer the question; I’m not sure if it’s the Minister of ENR or if it’s the Minister of ITI, but I would like to ask this government today. They’re ready to go to work. It’s the time of year when they can go out and cut. What is this government prepared to do to allow this company to continue to operate in Hay River? Thank you.