If we go based on the number that is always thrown around, attracting 2,000 immigrants to the Northwest Territories, if you put ECE's file and mine together, we are nowhere near the 2,000 number. We are working diligently to try to improve that. Myself and the department have had conversations about how we can approach the business stream of things and how we can maybe change things up to attract more people into the Northwest Territories. The department is working very hard on this initiative by launching a new website, working to streamline the process and make it simpler, and these sorts of things.
I think one of the conversations that has taken place that I can update Members on is with myself and the department. We are looking at the challenges. The federal government takes so long to approve some of these applicants. That is a hindrance to the whole process. Maybe we start looking at attracting immigrants from inside the country, newly arrived immigrants who have moved to Canada and maybe want to relocate and look at moving somewhere else, or business opportunities and that sort of matter. That is one of the things the department and I have talked about.
One of the other things we are talking about and we want to sit down with is the three diamond mines, and see if there is an opportunity there with the people who are flying in and outside of our territory. We would prefer them to be living here. Is there a group of immigrants who we can attract from outside the country who could potentially relocate and move to the Northwest Territories and work in these mines? These are the kinds of conversations that are taking place. We want to try to increase the numbers.