This is page numbers 1899 – 1936 of the Hansard for the 17th Assembly, 4th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was communities.

Topics

Alfred Moses

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. I’ll try to keep this short. Obviously the announcement in the Minister’s opening remarks about the $100,000 to find a solution for the Inuvik gas situation is something that I’ll keep on top of and always ask questions to see how things roll out over the next few weeks, after talking with Mr. Miltenberger last week in regard to this. Obviously that is probably the number one priority for me right now.

Probably second to that is the tourism, the $600,000 that was allocated that went on top of the marketing budget for Tourism NWT. They have a really good business plan. They have all their measurable goals, outcomes. It looks really great when I reviewed it a few times. It’s already in place. This was something that was done a couple fiscal years ago and just now they’re getting the funding.

Just playing on the success of NWT Days, I feel that NWT Tourism played a huge role in that in terms of their interactive displays and the pavilion that they had during Winterlude. It could have been a really good possible contributor to having all of these invitations for the GNWT to attend all of these other events. You saw the success, the professionalism, the work that NWT Tourism did while they were down in Ottawa, and the work that they did with residents of Ottawa and with the government. I feel that $600,000 is good in terms of implementing their strategy, but this is a strategy and a marketing strategy that is very detailed that they had for the last couple of years. I’m pretty sure they know where the dollars are going to be spent. Also, doing a presentation to committee, they seem pretty concerned, as well, in terms of competing spaces during Arctic Air and some of our other possibilities of marketing to certain markets. I feel that the $1.2 million should be there. That’s my

personal opinion. And I’m not sure how other committee members feel, but I’m sure they have the same kind of feelings in terms of that $1.2 million, otherwise we wouldn’t have asked for it during this whole budget dialogue process.

In terms of tourism, I know they want to focus on other markets and so can continue to press some of the tourism attractions here in the capital, but what I’d like to see, as Mr. Yakeleya just kind of touched on, is taking some of that tourism dollars and promoting some of the other regions that do need that, especially the regions that are in some economic downturns right now and can try to invest in another type of industry where other industries are not seeing much success.

If not, it’s something we can always fight for. If the $600,000 is something the Minister is going to be stuck on and the $600,000 does get spent and does show this government that NWT Tourism is capable of spending those dollars and is able to reach those markets and bring more revenue to the Northwest Territories, then possibly seeing a supplementary appropriation of the other $600,000 in this fiscal year as another option in terms of meeting the needs and the objectives of that expanded marketing strategy that they had.

I’m also very interested in looking at the parks, the investments and going on Ms. Bisaro’s comments about closing dates, I know there’s a big concern about that, especially when you have a lot of people in the Northwest Territories who like to go out camping, making those a bit longer and trying to get in as much as you can, obviously, because we do have a short summer season here, a short camping season.

I’d like to also commend the Minister and his staff on creating this Economic Strategy initiative that’s going out to the NWT. I know that I’ve sat down with the panel and had a very good discussion and I was very engaged for the full hour and a half and I’m hoping they are getting the same out in the communities and from other Members to see where we can start doing some of our other investments that will create some viable economic options for, like I said, the regions that really do need it or continue to support the ones that are being successful.

The arts and crafts, the film industry, speaking with some of the staff that are working with one of our biggest productions here, Arctic Air, and staff that say it is difficult to do work here in the Northwest Territories because of some of the incentives some of the other jurisdictions give the film industry, and yet they want to try to continue to work here but they find it very hard and it is expensive. I would like the department to seek other options to maybe get that adjusted so we can start bringing more of our film industry here, also because we do have a

great community of arts and drama and film folks here in the Northwest Territories as well.

That’s about it except for one big thing that the Minister doesn’t know I have a passion for and that’s the Business Incentive Policy. I really do feel that it needs to be reviewed and it needs to be improved. I’ve heard questions in the House today in regards to that policy itself. It’s something, in the short time I’ve been in the Assembly, I feel that needs to be address and that’s coming from people on the ground level and speaking with Aboriginal companies and local companies to make sure that when we go through the process that everyone has a fair opportunity. If we want to create diversity in the North, and economic benefits, then we have to start looking at our companies first and make sure they get hired.

Those are just some of the main concerns that I have and as we go through the detail, we’ll have some questions. That’s it for now, Madam Chair. Thank you.

The Chair

The Chair Wendy Bisaro

Thank you, Mr. Moses Members, seeing the clock, Mr. Dolynny is next on the list but he won’t have time to finish. So I will ask Mr. Menicoche what is the wish of committee.

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that we report progress. Thank you.

---Carried

The Chair

The Chair Wendy Bisaro

I will rise and report progress. Thank you, Minister, for attending, and witnesses. Sergeant-at-Arms, would you please escort our witnesses from the Chamber.

Report of Committee of the Whole
Report of Committee of the Whole

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Can I have the report of Committee of the Whole, please, Ms. Bisaro.

Report of Committee of the Whole
Report of Committee of the Whole

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Tabled Document 9-17(4), NWT Main Estimates, 2013-2014, and would like to report progress with one motion being adopted. Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with.

Report of Committee of the Whole
Report of Committee of the Whole

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. A motion is on the floor. Do we have a seconder? The seconder will be Mr. Menicoche.

---Carried

Report of Committee of the Whole
Report of Committee of the Whole

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Item 23, third reading of bills. Mr. Clerk, orders of the day.

Orders of the Day
Orders of the Day

Tim Mercer Clerk Of The House

Orders of the day for Tuesday, February 19, 2013, 1:30 p.m.:

1. Prayer

2. Ministers’

Statements

3. Members’

Statements

4. Returns to Oral Questions

5. Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

6. Acknowledgements

7. Oral

Questions

8. Written

Questions

9. Returns to Written Questions

10. Replies to Opening Address

11. Petitions

12. Reports of Standing and Special Committees

13. Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills

14. Tabling of Documents

15. Notices of Motion

16. Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills

17. Motions

18. First Reading of Bills

- Bill 2, An Act to Amend the Territorial Parks

Act

19. Second Reading of Bills

20. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of

Bills and Other Matters

- Tabled Document 9-17(4), NWT Main

Estimates, 2013-2014

- Bill 1, Tlicho Statutes Amendment Act

21. Report of Committee of the Whole

22. Third Reading of Bills

23. Orders of the Day

Orders of the Day
Orders of the Day

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Accordingly, this House stands adjourned until Tuesday, February 19th , at 1:30 p.m.

---ADJOURNMENT

The House adjourned at 5:56 p.m.