Mr. Speaker, the Member did share with me a very informative video on the different options around harm control, including this particular drug. I did share that with the department and asked them to include it in their information to help them have an informed, current, modern addictions recovery action plan. I anticipate that that work will be done. I will confirm that it is part of the plan moving forward. It does not mean that we are committing to providing that drug because I think there are some issues with whether or not it is actually available in Canada or not, that we need to really make sure that we are really comfortable with. The video also talked an awful lot about the science behind healing. It is not just a 12-step program and relying on an abstinence-based 12-step program but also addictions management and a science behind helping people deal with addictions. This is another area that I think the Northwest Territories as well as Canada must explore more.

I have raised this at a national level, and I am going to continue to find ways to move forward with that as a concept here, in the Northwest Territories. Harm-control, harm-reduction is a real thing, and it adds value. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment with regard to funding of the arts. Mr. Speaker, it is clear from the level of interest generated yesterday by the review of the lottery act how many people believe passionately in the arts and want to see enhanced government arts funding. Our arts strategy was developed back in 2004. I am wondering, Mr. Speaker, will the Minister commit to reaching out to the arts community and will the Minister support a review of the NWT Arts Strategy? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Minister of Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

It sounds like there is a little bit of light at the end of that tunnel, so I appreciate the Minister's response. Let's talk a little bit, Mr. Speaker, about the money. You know, the NWT Arts Council, as the Minister alluded to, they have had the same budget for the last 10 years, even though the demand as shown by the number of applications keeps increasing, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister commit to seeking more support for the Arts Council in order that more deserving artists can receive support for their creative endeavours? In other words, will the Minister support an increase to the NWT Arts Council? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Collectively, the GNWT supports the arts community with various departments, with various rebates, with various different supports. We are currently looking at how much we are spending in the arts sector with all departments. Before we begin those discussions, we need to see what those numbers are. We are confident that we do provide sufficient support to the whole NWT arts sector and all the programs that we have throughout the GNWT departments.

I appreciate that the Minister is going to undertake a review of sorts to some degree. The question really was as it related specifically to the NWT Arts Council. Their budget has been fixed for 10 years. At some point, you have to recognize that there do not need to be more research and strategies built around this sort of thing. After 10 years, you need an increase. There were over 1,700 applicants this year for that pot of money. People are being turned away. I just want to know: will the Minister commit to an increase to the NWT Arts Council?

I also want to point out that the funding that we have given to the NWT Arts Council has been protected from any reductions moving forward, as well, and that we continue to support the arts sector and, as I mentioned in my previous answer, that we are going to be looking collectively at our contributions with all GNWT departments to see how much we are actually contributing and supporting the NWT arts community. Then we will have those discussions afterwards.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am going to try just a little bit of a different avenue here. We know that the North has produced award-winning artists of all kinds: visual artists, theatre artists, musicians, and filmmakers. We also know that travel in and around the North and to get in and out of the North is very expensive. Will the Minister commit to seeking funding support for artists touring so that northern artists can reach a wider audience across Canada and elsewhere in the world? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Obviously, we do support that as a government. We support our artists that go to national events and festivals throughout the country. We will continue to do that. We also do it in the sports sector. If you look at the upcoming Olympics, we have three athletes who are going to be going to the Olympics who have gone through the system. We also have Juno Award winners, nominees whom we have supported coming from the communities. If you look at other programs we do as a government and as a territory, such as traditional game summits that promote sport, culture, and our artists as well as the upcoming Arctic Winter Games, we are supporting artists, we are supporting athletes, we are supporting both. As a government and as a Member of this Legislative Assembly, we do support, I support, the sports, recreations, culture, heritage as well as our artists, always have and will continue to do so. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I also have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Similar to my honourable friend from Yellowknife North, I want to talk about arts as a generator of jobs. This also involves the Minister of Labour. This is an important issue. The Conference Board of Canada estimates the annual contribution of Canada's arts and culture industry is 7.4 per cent. As a gross total, that is more than Canada's mining, forestry, fishery sectors plus the Canadian Forces combined. We talk about transitioning, diversifying our economy. We have the artists who can already do this work. We have funds that are oversubscribed. Will the Minister commit to looking at arts through an employment lens and develop a strategy or modify his employment strategies to include the creative industries? Thank you.

Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think it is more than just my department that will need to take a look at this in terms of the economic work and jobs that this arts sector creates. It is going to have to be a whole government approach when we take a look at this. We will be looking at that, as I mentioned in my previous questions, and then come back to the House to give up these numbers.

I am glad to hear there is a whole government approach. It sounds like the Minister is committing to taking this on. We have brought this issue before. Today is not the first time it is brought up. What work has he been doing to fulfill these new arts commitments that he is talking about today? I don't see anything in today's budget around the arts.

As I mentioned earlier in the question period here, I am confident that we are providing sufficient, fair, and equitable support for both the arts and the arts sector as well as the sports sector. We are going to have to look throughout the government to see what our contributions and supports for the arts community is. We will come back to this House and to Members and share that with them before we get into any further discussions.

When is the Minister going to come back to the House with all this work, tomorrow, the next day, the day after that? Can the Minister give us a timeline?

As I mentioned, I am going to have to have this discussion with my colleagues. We also have an advisory board with the NWT Arts Council. There are going to be some discussions that need to happen before we come back. I do not have a timeline. In due course, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My colleague the honourable Member from Yellowknife North brought up some funding dollars. Every Member on this side of the House has brought up more funding for the arts. I am going to ask the Minister again, this time from me, if he is going to hear the majority of the House and provide more funding dollars for the arts within the life of this Assembly? Thank you.

As I mentioned, we are going to have to look at what our contributions are as a government with all our departments and work that we have with our partners and come back and see what our contributions and our supports for the NWT arts community are. I do feel that we are sufficiently supporting our arts community throughout the Northwest Territories. Once we have those numbers, we will share them with Members of this House. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.