Masi. The Honourable Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm not aware of a microgrid charette being organized in Yellowknife in June, so it would be helpful perhaps for the Member to edify me on who is organizing, who the proponents are.

I can say that the Government of Northwest Territories is currently in the process of engaging with energy stakeholders as part of the development of a new climate change framework and energy strategy. To date we've held meetings in Inuvik, Norman Wells, Fort Smith, and Yellowknife. We have workshop sessions upcoming in Fort Simpson, Hay River, and Behchoko. We've received submissions from Alternatives North and other energy consulting businesses and are considering those perspectives. We certainly welcome the opportunity to hear from all interested parties and will work to integrate those comments and suggestions into the draft energy strategy and climate change framework which we expect to table in draft form later this year.

Also, getting small communities off diesel was one of the three infrastructure priorities that we went to Ottawa with to discuss with the federal government in November, and we are looking forward, hopefully, to positive announcements in the federal budget speech later this month. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

My understanding is this is a collaboration between several organizations. They have already raised $135,000 of $325,000 required for the charette; $40,000 from the Boreal Initiative; $20,000 from Tides Canada; $15,000 from the Gwich'in Tribal Council; and the potential of $60,000 from the mines. Will the government come forward as a funding partner to contribute the remaining $190,000 to make this charette a reality and a success?

As a government, we like charettes. We like them so much that we held a charette in 2012, a charette in 2014, and we also funded a remote microgrid conference here in Yellowknife in September 2015. So that, coupled with the engagement process that is under way now, is a strong indication of how committed we are. Certainly I understand there is a proposal that has been submitted and was recently received on January 24th; we will certainly look at that. I am certainly interested in learning more details around the proposed charette and what new information would we get beyond the findings of the previous charettes and microgrid conference that we would receive from this proposed charette.

My expectation is, if it looks like they will be coming up with a number of new information, certainly we'd look at the federal government to partner as well and we would take it into consideration like we look at all proposals that the government receives.

Mr. Speaker, as the Premier has indicated, the Minister of Climate Change and Energy indicated, the charettes in 2012 and 2014 were to set the path today to record the way the government plans to go. It brought people together, helped clarify the thinking of government, and set the path for renewable energy and getting off diesel.

Will the government, in consideration to the items that the Premier has requested essentially saying if we can provide more information and that can be done, will the Premier appoint a senior official to be part of this collaborative working group to this critical third charette?

As a result of working on a new climate change framework and a new energy strategy, we do have a team of people that are working together from the departments of ENR and Public Works, and they work on public engagement and the development of these strategies so that they align with our long-term objectives. These teams include senior officials of the Government of the Northwest Territories, and with our responsibilities to the development of these strategies we can certainly send somebody to attend or are open to participating in stakeholder-driven engagement sessions. As I said, we will be reviewing the proposal and will consider having staff attend once we have more information on the proposed sessions and topics.

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

Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my understanding is there is a planning meeting of a working group working towards a charette here in Yellowknife on February 22nd and 23rd. I was wondering if the Premier could commit senior officials from that group or a senior official from that group to attend the working group meeting? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said, when we get the details we will certainly look seriously at doing it. I guess the main issue for me is, if we spend $190,000 on a charette, does that mean if that charette comes out with recommendations because we spent so much money that we are bound by whatever comes out of that charette? So I guess that's the main thing that we have to look at when we are evaluating this proposal.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Mackenzie Delta.

Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just a little bit of history. Between 2008 and 2016 a number of significant facility upgrades totalling the amount of $2.256 million were completed to repair and upgrade the building. The existing condition of the building will need to be assessed prior to a recommendation for renovation or replacement. Should the assessment determine that a renovation is required, a planning study will be launched in 2018-19 to begin this process. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Over the past five years in the Assembly I've noticed a lot of our buildings that are up for major repair or retrofit actually get replaced. A good example is our Stanton Territorial Hospital. We have other facilities in other communities as well, the Joe Greenland Centre.

Mr. Speaker, I just have another question for the Minister: when was the Moose Kerr School last assessed for asbestos risk? The school was built at the same time as Samuel Hearne, and in Samuel Hearne they actually found asbestos in that building. That was one of the reasons why that was replaced as well.

Public Works and Services is the facility maintainer. They do not typically undertake assessments specifically for asbestos; it is done as part of the routine preventative maintenance procedures. ECE is aware of asbestos in the crawl space and on the piping elbows, and it is contained and in good shape. The next annual inspection is scheduled for May-June 2017.

I'm looking forward to that assessment. Would the Minister please provide a report once that's available?

Yes, our department will work with Public Works and Services on that report and provide it to the Member.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, these are questions for the Minister of ITI about tourism. It's very important in my riding; it's a beautiful country and that. Can the Minister please advise this House what his department is doing for the smaller communities in helping promote tourism? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last year ITI invested over $5 million in direct grants and contributions to tourism-related business and initiatives in the NWT. Funding is available to qualified businesses under a number of programs, one of them being the Community Tourism Coordinator program, this one we've just announced that helps communities advance regional product development and packaging. We fund specific marketing arrangements with the NWT Tourism, which helps all the members of NWT Tourism and it allows the regions to market and promote products in their regions and operations. We're always investing in capacity of our regions and our operators to promote themselves and their businesses.

This year we've leveraged a partnership with CanNor to deliver regional workshops on transforming NWT communities through tourism, and regional tourism advisors exists in every regional office to work with operators directly. We continue to deliver the Community Tourism Infrastructure Contribution program to encourage the development of community tourism and infrastructure in all regions in the NWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It's great to hear what the department's doing, but can the Minister provide a breakdown per regions and what ridings with the money that's being spent in these areas?

Yes, we can get that stuff together for the Member, as tourism is wide and broad in the Northwest Territories and each region is represented in different capacities. So we can pull that stuff together for the Member.

I thank the Minister for that answer. It will be very helpful. In my last constituency tour, some of the people were talking about utilizing their skiffs, their outboards. Not jet boats, because a lot of tourists come to my riding, they don’t want to go on a jet boat, but they would like to go on a skiff. The biggest challenge for my communities is about the insurance. So can the Minister please provide us what he's able to do for small businesses in regard to this insurance issue?