We feel it is an improvement and we will definitely be taking steps to make sure that everybody that we think would be interested would be aware of it.

Thank you. Next I have Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’m wondering if the Minister can give me some information on broadband infrastructure support. What does that actually mean in terms of is that equipment that we’re putting into the communities? Are we buying satellites, things of that nature, and is he able to give me some examples as to where we would see if it is infrastructure for that fact? Where we would see it? Thank you.

Minister McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Probably four years ago the federal government announced that they were investing approximately $39 million between Nunavut and the Northwest Territories to expand and improve on the broadband infrastructure. Nunavut got the majority of the money. I think they got $25 million and the Northwest Territories got $14 million. This is our contribution to assist with the O and M and administration with the Falcon Communications. Thank you.

Next I have Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Instead of asking a question I would like to ask the Minister if I could get an explanation of how much money is used for fishing and for what purposes, what the programs are. I see marketing of fish here on this page and I asked some questions on the previous one and got totally lost. If I could simply get an outline of all the programs that pertain to fish, which ones are marketing, which ones are Fishermen’s’ Federation, et cetera. Thank you.

Mr. Minister, can you provide that? Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. On the previous page the $225,000 was for the NWT Fishermen’s Federation, which is made up of a consortium of fishers that fish on Great Slave Lake. The $550,000 is we want to promote and develop local markets for not only fish but also country food. For example, fish in Great Slave Lake, we’d like to see it served in the hospitals, we’d like to see it served in corrections facilities and also made available for consumption by people, because we think fish is a very healthy food. So if we can distribute and sell it locally rather than shipping it to Winnipeg for sale, then we think it will help the fishermen. They will get a higher price and they’ll get a better return. Thank you.

Thanks for the explanation. I guess I have to ask if the Fishermen’s Federation gets $225,000, does the NWT Farmers’ Association get the same amount of money? I would appreciate an explanation other than verbally. Thank you.

The NWT Farmers’ Association gets core funding, as well, and the Growing Forward Program that we have with the

federal government, I think it’s budgeted for about $625,000. Thank you.

We’re on page 12-32, activity summary, economic diversification and business support, grants and contributions, grants and contributions, $12.949 million.

Total grants and contributions, $13.574 million.

Moving on to page 12-33, again it’s an information item. Active positions.

Okay. We’re moving on to lease commitments, page 12-34, again an information item.

Fur Marketing Service Revolving Fund. Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I see we have lease commitments for infrastructure for the visitors centre in Inuvik as well as Dawson. I’m just wondering, does ITI provide any sort of contributions to the visitors centre in the Northern Frontier Visitors Centre that’s located here in Yellowknife that serves the whole North Slave. Thank you.

Minister of ITI.

Yes, we do, Mr. Chair.

Okay. I’ll take as a yes, we do on good faith.