Mr. Speaker, the tourism industry offers opportunities for economic development throughout all regions of the Northwest Territories, and federal funding can support this growing and vibrant industry.

On February 9th , along with myself and Mr. Don

Morin, chair of Northwest Territories Tourism, the federal Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, announced a contribution of approximately $2.8 million to support tourism development in the Northwest Territories. The contribution includes just over $1.4 million for tourism projects supported by the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment and $1.4 million in funding for NWT Tourism. These funds will be spent over the remaining current fiscal year and in 2015-2016.

The funding dedicated to Industry, Tourism and Investment’s tourism projects will include research, the development of a visitor exit survey, community tourism development and training activities.

There will be an emphasis on five communities with emerging tourism opportunities: Lutselk’e, Fort Resolution, Fort Simpson, Deline and Tuktoyaktuk.

I would like to thank these communities for their vision in pursuing tourism for economic development, the well-being of their residents, and cultural vibrancy. Funding will support baseline research to measure the impacts of these investments as well a series of initiatives to build community tourism capacity.

The investment in NWT Tourism will take place over the same time period. This funding will support the implementation of a two-year marketing plan to further promote the territory to target markets in Asia, Europe and North America. Marketing activities include advertising and promotions, attendance at trade shows, market research and the development of a five-year marketing strategy.

This strategy will respond to new opportunities such as the emerging market in China and other Asian

nations. It will guide the annual marketing plans going forward. The overall goal of these activities is to increase the number of tourists visiting and spending money in the Northwest Territories.

I am pleased to share that Industry, Tourism and Investment will also be contributing funding to these two initiatives through existing tourism support programs. Our share includes $5.7 million for the ITI tourism projects and $1.4 million for NWT Tourism over two years, bringing the total investment announced by our two governments this week to approximately $10 million.

Mr. Speaker, the number of tourists discovering our spectacular territory continues to grow every year. Tourism brings around $130 million to the Northwest Territories each year and employs 2,500 people. To further grow this important sector, we need support, and the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment welcomes and appreciates the investment of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency.

Once again we would like to thank the federal government for their continued support. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.