Mahsi. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Deh Cho region is one of the most spectacular in the Northwest Territories. Our territorial parks are the first people reach when they enter the NWT from either BC or Alberta.
Between campgrounds and day-use areas, parks in the Deh Cho area offer a variety of opportunities for recreation and relaxation. We are welcoming increasing numbers of visitors and want to ensure they enjoy their stay.
The government has worked hard to improve parks infrastructure and visitor experiences. For example, parks throughout the Northwest Territories now have more flexible operating dates to accommodate good weather at the end of the season. Great effort was put into the 60th Parallel Visitors' Centre.
Mr. Speaker, the Deh Cho is one of the most accessible parts of the NWT in terms of geography and climate. We need to keep doing all we can to attract visitors. At the same time, significant parcels of land in the Deh Cho are being advanced through the former Protected Areas Strategy process and now the Conservation Areas Network. We have an opportunity to look at the linkages between conservation areas and tourism and ways to incorporate parks into conservation areas.
Mr. Speaker, around the world we see wilderness being traded for commodities and traditional cultures assimilated by mass media and consumerism. Knowledge of the land and its value to the people who live there enhances people's understanding of the need to protect it, along with traditional culture.
Mr. Speaker, we need to ensure dialogue continues between governments, communities, the business and tourism sectors as we look into opportunities to both conserve and develop our natural resources. Mr. Speaker, if you are visiting the NWT, you can't drive home without driving through the Deh Cho. Let's make sure people see things that make them want to come back again. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.