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

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, when you look on this page, I believe all regions can all tap in and benefit on a whole bunch of different things. The community tourism infrastructure one is one where all Aboriginal governments and organizations, like is listed there, can apply to it. That is one way to tap into doing that. The tourism skills development, that is going to be done in all regions this year in the Northwest Territories. The Sahtu region can also tap into the Tourism Product Diversification Program. Last year, I believe we helped the Sahtu region reprint the Canol Trail guidebook, as well as a number of cooperative advertising campaigns with their local tourism operators that are in the Sahtu. I think I had a number of questions in the House this week. Communities can apply on having the tourism community advisor in each community. So there's a number of different initiatives to help the communities in all regions in the Northwest Territories to try to tap into the full potential of the tourism industry in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister Schumann. Mr. McNeely.

Daniel McNeely Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Looking back at the November 2nd presentation here it refers to "Tourism 2020: Opening our Spectacular Home to the World to View." This five-year strategy is our government's plan for creating a $207 million-a-year industry by the year 2021. So that's the given target and the given objectives, and now I see on this budget it's supported by the number of $400,000. So I'm glad to hear that there is a plan and it's supported by the resources in order to implement that initiative. So it's more of a comment, Mr. Chair. Thank you.

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. McNeely. Minister Schumann.

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. One thing about that document, we had a number of stakeholders involved in it as well. I'm proud to say that this is one of the few industries that we're diversifying the economy in the Northwest Territories that's having great success. As I've said earlier today, the amount of money that we're putting in there, you see in this line item of $5,453,000, is a great investment in the culture and the people in the Northwest Territories and the programs and operators of the NWT. So it's one part of the department I'm very proud of. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister Schumann. Any further questions from committee? Mr. Nadli.

Michael Nadli Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My interest is in terms of page 211, the community tourism infrastructure and to the bottom of tourism, the various initiatives in the range of at least $5.5 million for this initiative. So I'm just trying to understand just how many territorial parks that we might have in the NWT. I understand, like, in my riding there are six territorial parks, so I just wanted to understand whether this department has a figure in terms of the total territorial parks that exist in the NWT. Mahsi.

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Nadli. Minister Schumann.

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. For all the parks in the Northwest Territories, counting staff and contractors and stuff, we spend about $5 million annually. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister Schumann. Mr. Nadli.

Michael Nadli Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Specifically the question I was asking is: what is the total of the number of territorial parks that we have? I understand territorial parks would mean we have day-use areas, we have campgrounds. For example, in the Deh Cho riding we have Twin Falls and parks and then we have Lady Evelyn Falls campgrounds and then we have on the Kakisa River we have a day-use area. So I just wanted to know how many of those facilities that we have across the NWT. Mahsi.

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Nadli. Minister Schumann.

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We don't have that exact number at our fingertips, but I believe we have 17 parks in the NWT. As for the other day-use parks and stuff, we'd have to get that, so we'll get those numbers together for the Member. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister Schumann. Mr. Nadli.

Michael Nadli Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Chair; that's good to know. The reason why I'm asking is, if maybe a community or a region were interested in perhaps establishing a park, is there any criteria set or are there any factors to be considered that ITI perhaps would consider in discussions with communities in terms of future parks that could be possibly expanded? What would be the factors or criteria that determine if a park could be established? Mahsi.

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Nadli. Minister Schumann.

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. If a community was interested in establishing or expanding an existing park, I'm sure we're willing to sit down and have a look at it, and if it fits into our long-term plans we would certainly be welcome to have that conversation. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister Schumann. Mr. Nadli.

Michael Nadli Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm just trying again to understand the efforts towards tourism. I mean, generally the initiatives that this department has undertaken are very constructive in terms of dialoguing with the communities and trying to take an opportunity of the tourism industry, but inevitably there could be the unintentional disparities between the concentration of resources say in Yellowknife, other regions, or the communities. So I'm just trying to understand.

The Minister had indicated at least the total amount for tourism and parks is $5.5 million. Is there an understanding of how much is designated for pan-territorial initiatives like the Tourism 2020 initiative? How much of the total of $5.5 million is designated for regions and how much of that is targeted for community initiatives? Mahsi.

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Nadli. Minister Schumann.

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. If we go to page 210, so operations expenditures is $14.7 million, roughly, for operations and expenditures of parks; $5 million of that, I believe, is for parks alone. Tourism initiatives is one point --

Mujcin

Eight million.

Wally Schumann Hay River South

-- $8,192,000. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister Schumann. Mr. Nadli.

Michael Nadli Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just wanted to maybe get the Minister to maybe just repeat that. He indicated that there's $5 million designated towards parks, and am I correct, $8 million towards tourism initiatives? Thank you.

Debates of Feb. 16th, 2017

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