I would have to have a discussion with my department and get back to the Member on that.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister if there is any plan from the GNWT to spend any money on the Taltson Dam expansion this year? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I can get those details for the Member, but I believe, through our infrastructure bilaterals that we signed with Minister Sohi, one of the line items there is to have a look at some of the preconstruction work that would need to be completed for the Taltson project. There is certainly some money there that we are looking at spending on predevelopment work. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, visitors centre-related activities here in the City of Yellowknife have been handled by the municipal government, and they have done a great job. They have even gone so far as to reach out to Behchoko and to the Yellowknives Dene to develop a shared tourism product. They are already finding ways not just to offer opportunities here but throughout the Northwest Territories. What they lack is a visitors centre.

I would like to ask the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment how the department is working with the City of Yellowknife to deliver a tourism visitors centre here in the capital? Thank you.

Masi. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can update this House that the Department of ITI and NWT Tourism has provided financial support to the City of Yellowknife, and what they are using that money for is to hire a consultant team to determine a long-term model that will work for delivery of tourism visitor information services in Yellowknife. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you to the Minister. That is good news. What is the long-term plan for this project? Is it ongoing contribution to support operations until that study is done, or is this the extent of the support this government is providing for tourism services in Yellowknife?

As I have stated in this House many times, we are continuing to give the ongoing support that we gave to the tourism centre that previously operated, $161,000 annually. That is going on, as far as I know, as long as I am here. What we are waiting to do is hear back from the City of Yellowknife with their consultants what their long-term view of this is.

Thank you to the Minister. I'm glad that that contribution is remaining and is consistent on that. The former visitors centre is still in its previous location on our otherwise pristine capital grounds here. Can the Minister advise on what the plan for the old building is? Are we tearing it down, are we going to salvage the structure, and who is going to pay for it at the end of the day?

Contractors recently have just been out there welding and levelling the facility to get it stabilized. The Department of Infrastructure is having a look at the engineering requirements around what it is going to take to either replace that, cut off the back half of it, use the front of it, or demolish it.

After that has been completed, we will be reaching out probably within the government departments to see if there is a need for it. If there is no need within the government departments, we will probably be going out to a public call to see if there is a need for it and then have a look at the capability of such people paying for doing the improvements going forward.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you to the Minister for that update. Finally, as it relates to supporting tourism in the capital or, indeed, throughout the Northwest Territories, the Minister said that the resources are very limited and the demand is outpacing them. Given the needs in Yellowknife and given the needs across the territory, is the Minister willing to bring forward additional financial resources or adjust the budget so we can properly seize on the opportunities presented by tourism? As I said in my statement, Mr. Speaker, they are limitless, but we certainly need to invest in them. Thank you.

As the Member is well aware, we have a process that we follow. We have forced growth. We have new initiatives. We have the budget process. The department recognizes the needs and the pressure on the system and the fiscal capacity that we have to deliver what we can deliver with what we have. I will be bringing something forward for more funding around a whole bunch of initiatives. In due time, we will have those brought to the House. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Sahtu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question today is for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment in regards to aviation pilot training. I am very encouraged by the two northern companies merging together to initiate a partnership to address the shortage of aviation pilots in our territory. On May 9^th, Northwestern Air Lease announced on its Facebook page in partnering with North-Wright Airways of the Sahtu and Aurora College to create an aviation school in Fort Smith by 2019. My first question, Mr. Speaker, is: will the Minister be sharing the flying school program details with stakeholders and community leaders? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have no problem sharing things, but at this point, we have nothing to share. There was an initial meeting with Aurora College. No commitments were made. At that meeting, Aurora College had asked for a proposal, a business plan, and intensive study, for example, where they are getting funding, et cetera. To date, we have not received any of that information. I can share what I have, which is nothing at this point. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

This is kind of like where I am going, Mr. Speaker. It is all part of the development of the preamble to the program. Once the preliminary startup details cost, dates of the project or program, will that information be shared? At this point in time, if any, what point in time if we are to meet that 2019 deadline?

At this point, like I had said, we have asked them for a proposal, Aurora College did. Nothing has been received. I would have to check in and make sure. I am not sure if things of that nature are actually shared. I could probably share it with standing committee. I am not sure if I would table that document, because it is a private enterprise looking to partner with us.

Also, as I had mentioned earlier, the two partners with Aurora College to the flying school, one is North-Wright Airways. North-Wright Airways is 50 per cent owned by two of the largest land corporations in Fort Good Hope and Deline. Where I am going with this next question is to see if part of the program would be to transfer the schooling in one of the Sahtu airports, particularly Norman Wells, if that could be viewed as part of some of the discussions. Can the Minister commit to having, say, a revolving school to include Norman Wells training at the airport site there?

I am conscious that, when the Aurora College was reviewed, a lot of people had been saying for many years that Aurora College tries to do too much. I think we have to step back and kind of look at what we are doing now. I am interested in seeing a proposal. However, Mr. Speaker, it is important to note that, over the last five years, only 23 students have applied for student financial assistance for aviation. That averages just under five a year, which might be a pretty costly course. Mr. Speaker, I would hate to see things go bad. I would like to see the proposal before I make any decisions.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Sahtu.