Masi. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the growth of the film, television and media arts sector is an economic success story in the Northwest Territories. In early 2015, ITI tabled Take One, a strategy and action plan to grow the economic potential of the sector, then at $9.7 million a year. The introduction of a $100,000 pot of money for a rebate program to be spent on training, spending and travel provided incentives to film on location with local residents.

The feature film, The Sun at Midnight, was one of two films approved for the rebate last year. With a total budget of $250,000, the producers were able to employ 34 Northerners in various capacities. Over 70 per cent of that budget was spent in the NWT, and half of that in the community of Fort McPherson. The filmmakers only spent money in the south when expertise and services were unavailable in the north. An early valuation of the film says it looks like it costs $2 million to make, a tremendous complement to the whole crew. The film will be completed in July and shown at various festivals.

There are successes on TV as well. Dene: a Journey has highlighted the culture of the NWT for a national audience. It was renewed for a second season with APTN. Another program, Fur Harvesters NWT, shot in Hay River, averaged a viewership of 2.2 million, the highest ever for a new show in the history of WildTV. The government has wisely, yes wisely, recognized the success of this sector by doubling rebate funding available for this fiscal year. Just this month the Minister said the program is no longer a pilot, but a permanent fixture.

The world is obviously hungry for Northern stories. With increased experience, exposure and proven products, Northern producers now have the opportunity to access greater pots of money both nationally and internationally. Notably, the Canadian Media Fund has just raised the Northern incentive fund to $1 million this year because of the desire to see more Northern/regional programming.

The film, television and media arts sector has proven returns. Companies working in this sector should have proper financial incentives to develop projects that can prove profitable and generate returns in the North. I propose the GNWT create financial incentives similar to the Mining Incentive Program. I seek unanimous consent, Mr. Speaker, to conclude my statement. Thank you.

---Unanimous consent granted

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi, colleagues. I propose the GNWT create financial incentives similar to the mining incentive program for Northern professionals to develop Northern content. In addition to attracting more outside productions to the NWT, we can actively continue to grow the film, television and media arts sector from within. If we are to take this sector seriously, we must further increase investment in it in the next budget. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Deh Cho.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories is a beautiful place in northern Canada. We have the second largest river in North America and several of the deepest lakes in Canada. Wild and pristine are words we use to describe the North in the promotional materials to draw in visiting tourists that may either fly or drive north.

Mr. Speaker, I went home on the weekend and drove from Yellowknife to Fort Providence. I understand that summer time is the time when repairs and construction for our highways take place. So I came across intermittent stops for construction. I ask travelers on the highway to obey all signs and especially the areas where construction is taking place.

Of particular interest is the area of the highway between Yellowknife and Behchoko. This section is riddled with potholes and dips that could cause even the most experienced driver to slow down and be weary of possibly careening off the road. Some potholes are not marked and provide no warning to the traveler. A few people describe this section of the highway as “bad and in terrible condition.” The road has seen better days.

Mr. Speaker, the Deh Cho Bridge has enabled uninterrupted traffic 24 hours a day, from Enterprise to Yellowknife. We also have heavy transportation of goods during the winter season, with large truck hauling supplies for the diamond mines. We need to remember that it's our lifelong residents that use the highways the most and efforts have to be made to improve the road conditions so that they are safe and enjoyable roads to travel on. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I'll have questions for the Minister responsible for transportation at the appropriate time.

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Mackenzie Delta.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to bring your attention back to the Premier's Awards ceremony that took place June 15, 2016. Mr. Speaker, Members of the Mackenzie Delta as well as the Gwich'in Tribal Council were honored for various awards. Please allow me to congratulate Shirley Snowshoe from Fort McPherson, Velma lllisiak from Aklavik, Alestine Andre from Tsiigehtchic, Sarah Jerome originally from Fort McPherson, as well as Norman Snowshoe and Diane Baxter from the Gwich'in Tribal Council for the Collaboration Award for Gwich'in Curriculum Development. Also David Krutko from Fort McPherson for NWT-Alberta & NWT-British Columbia Bilateral Water Management Agreements. Also, Mr. Speaker, Robert Charlie from the Gwich'in Tribal Council for the Collaboration Award in the NWT ASETS for the Aurora College. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6. acknowledgements. Item 7, oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'll direct my question to the Minister responsible for the Department of the Executive. Mr. Speaker, the 2016-17 operating budget contains funding proposals for four new communications officers in the Executive. The positions were recommended in a functional review of the communications activity "to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of government communications through an increased focus on communication that is centered, digital, open, and engages residence."

The budget presentation said that a rigorous, transparent and public results reporting tool will be created to provide ongoing updates on progress being made to fulfill the government's commitments in the mandate. Can the Minister tell us how he plans to roll this out in collaboration with Regular Members? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We will work closely with the Regular Members in developing this report. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I wonder if the Premier could elaborate on that answer about how he is going to involve Regular Members?

We will be developing a draft approach to how we would come up with a report, and we will share it with the Regular Members.

I don't feel like I'm going anywhere with that. So I'll move on to whether the Minister can comment on why communication staff will be centralized in the Department of Executive rather than in the departments where they could better serve the needs of residents of the NWT?

There was an extensive report that was done that indicated that this government was very deficient in a number of communication positions compared to other jurisdictions, and it recommended increasing a number of positions that were approved in the 17thAssembly. Every department in the Government does have communications personnel. So because it is functioning, the responsibilities function over the whole Government, it was determined that these positions would remain in the Department of the Executive.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister responsible for the Executive said during the budget debate the more communications officers you have the more they can contribute to open and transparent government. How does the Minister plan to ensure that more communications officers means more outreach and understanding, and how will those ideals be evaluated? Thank you.

What we find in our travels as we go out to the regions, as we go out and talk to the people of the Northwest Territories is that a lot of the people don't realize what a good job that we do or they don't recognize the number of important programs that we deliver. So through our communications people we want everybody to know what programs we have, what benefits we can provide so that everybody can make sure that they benefit to the maximum from all of the generous programs that this government provides.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker only three schools in the NWT are at capacity. One of the schools is the school at Ndilo, K'alemi Dene, and it's the only school that has over 100 students that doesn't have a gym. I'd like to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment if the Minister will ensure the needs of education capital, specific to KDSR are in the 20-year capital needs assessment? Thank you.

Mahsi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we are aware of the situation down at Ndilo with K'alemi Dene School. Just a little bit of information there: in 2009, when the school was built, due to -- with our NWT Schools – Capital Standards and Criteria, when a school has a targeted enrolment of anywhere from 50 to 150, 70 square metres for recreational use is met to with a design in the school. In K'alemi Dene School, there is an 85-square-metre activity room. I do understand the situation, though, in terms of utilization rates. Once a school reaches 85 per cent, then our department works with the district education authority to address the issue.

K'álemì Dene School is on the 20-year capital planning list, and our staff will be working with the education authority to look at how we can address the utilization rates and the enrolment issue at K'alemi Dene School. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister if he would commit to directing his staff at ECE to initiate action to get the K'álemì Dene School gymnasium and classroom expansion into the upcoming capital planning process.

Yes, we'll get our staff to work with the education authority to see how we can address the space issue down in Ndilo.

Masi. Oral Questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh