Debates of Feb. 16th, 2017

This is page numbers 1699 – 1740 of the Hansard for the 18th Assembly, 2nd 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 going.

Topics

Oral Questions

Prayer

Anti-Poverty

Airport Infrastructure Funding

Inuvik-Aklavik Seasonal Winter Road

Socio-Economic Agreements

Northwest Territories Outstanding Volunteer Awards

Reducing The Cost Of Living For Northwest Territories Residents

Land Rights Agreements

Community Energy Plans

Anti-Poverty Initiatives

#lovenwtwater Bottled Water Campaign

Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee

Condolences To K'atlodeeche House Fire Victims

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Land Rights Agreements

Socio-Economic Agreements

Ice Road Maintenance Contracts

Northwest Territories Outstanding Volunteer Awards

Arctic Energy Alliance Programs In Sahtu Communities

#lovenwtwater Bottled Water Campaign

Summer Student Employment

Land Use Plans

Ice Road Maintenance Contracts

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Industry, Tourism And Investment, Deferral Of Minerals And Petroleum Services Activity

Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Industry, Tourism And Investment, Deferral Of Further Consideration Of The Estimates For The Department Of Industry, Tourism And Investment

Report of Committee of the Whole

Orders of the Day

Committee Motion 51-18(2): Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Industry, Tourism And Investment, Deferral Of Minerals And Petroleum Services Activity, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Nadli. Minister Schumann.

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, that's exactly what I said. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister Schumann. Mr. Nadli.

Michael Nadli Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The other point that I wanted to understand is that there's an increasing interest in collaboration and cooperation in terms of working with communities, and also the management of territorial parks and so forth, but to basically take an opportunity of the growing number of visitors to the parks and it's a very good thing, and so I wanted to understand that communities want to, of course, be involved. So is it critical or integral that communities have an opportunity to develop their local community tourism strategies? Mahsi.

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Nadli. Minister Schumann.

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That's why we had the initiative that's put in place in this 2020 going forward was the community regional coordinator position that each community can apply on. They can do it by themselves, or a couple of communities can get together to pull it together, but the main intent of that is bringing that initiative forward. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister Schumann. Mr. Nadli.

Michael Nadli Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Chair. No further questions.

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Nadli. Committee, any further questions? Mr. Testart.

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, section 1.27 of our mandate commitments, for which the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment is responsible, has commitments to do a number of things. One, I'd like to ask how this budget address is erecting emergency shelters along remote highways. I know that that has been an issue in the past. How is the department investing in those emergency shelters and fulfilling the mandate commitment? Thank you.

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Minister Schumann.

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. On this particular file, we are working with my other department, the Department of Transportation, on how we can enhance roadside facilities. There is a small working group working on that. We are working to define the underlying needs that meet the needs of these emergency shelters and identify some alternative solutions. We are still working on an initiative before we bring it forward. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Minister Schumann. Mr. Testart.

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. When does the Minister expect to be in a position to release the details of this working group plan? Thank you.

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Minister Schumann.

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Like I said, the two departments are having a look at it moving forward. The long-term plan is to have a pull-out every 50 kilometres along the highway system and a major rest stop every 50 kilometres. We will continue to look at this initiative and see what we can do before the end of the 18th Legislative Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Minister Schumann. Mr. Testart.

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Midterm, when we review this mandate, is rapidly approaching, so I expect that, if we have an idea of what this plan is going to cost and whether or not we can accomplish it, we should know sooner than later. Further to this commitment, there is also a commitment to expand tourism options by building new parks, such as the Doi T'oh Territorial Park in the Sahtu region. What is the status of that development of new parks and in particular, the Doi T'oh Territorial Park? Thank you.

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Minister Schumann.

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Doi T'oh Territorial Park Canol Heritage Trail is still under the federal government. They are working on their initiative coming forward. I believe they have already had a site tour of potential bidders there in the last fall on this site. I believe in the coming months they are supposed to be doing a bid process and see how all that rolls out. Until that time, it is still under federal responsibility. We will not be moving on that initiative until that takes place. I believe we are also still working with the federal government on sources of funding to finish up wire cleanup on the Canol Trail this year. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Minister Schumann. Mr. Testart.

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Can the Minister provide details of any other territorial parks that are in development? Thank you.

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Minister Schumann.

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As for parks under ITI's care and maintenance, I believe that we don't have anything besides some expansions of existing parks. Other parks, that may fall under department of ENR, which would be conservation initiatives. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Minister Schumann. Mr. Testart.

Debates of Feb. 16th, 2017

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