Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm really glad to hear that and would encourage the Minister to just have that become something for all GNWT employees, but I do recognize that can cost a lot of money. For my last question, I can't just always focus on women, so I would like to know: what is the GNWT doing to ensure that men have equal access to employment in both the public and private sector in professions that are typically considered to be non-traditional for them? Thank you.

With respect to the GNWT's staffing, men are not a designated group of priority within the affirmative action policy, and so, as such, they wouldn't get an enhanced or any sort of additional focus in that regard. Certainly, there is a merit-based system overall to staffing, and that should be applied in a way that is fair and equitable, again, across the board, regardless of gender. However, there is nothing specific for men, and I acknowledge that, indeed, in the Northwest Territories and with the COVID pandemic, it, indeed, was a lot of the male traditional areas that saw a lot of the job decline. Perhaps some further attention does need to get paid to that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Monfwi.

Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] Today, about the all-season road to Whati. How is the government getting along? I have questions for the Minister of ITI. [End of translation] [Microphone turned off] ...celebration in November, the grand opening of the all-weather road. I would just like to know from the department of tourism the preparation for that road. The first question I have for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment is: what can the Minister tell this Assembly about the danger of embracing community-based tourism without adequate planning and preparation by the government and by community members and also community entrepreneurs? Masi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.

Mr. Speaker, I think I already got the "you talk too long" look, Mr. Speaker, so I'm a little bit hesitant to go in on too much length here. When I heard the Member's statement earlier about the road to Whati, about the fact that there is going to be tourism opportunities, I immediately called up a document that I have which, essentially, was lessons learned from the Tuktoyaktuk highway expansion.

The Department of ITI has already connected the community government in Whati to the community government in Tuktoyaktuk to do some of the lessons learned to figure out what worked and what could be done better. There are a number of important areas here. I think, certainly, I need to follow up with the Member and ensure that work is being done to follow-up with the community directly because everything from ensuring the right infrastructure is available in the community to ensuring that business, small businesses, are feeling robust and able and prepared and ensuring that also tourism businesses, specifically, have the right infrastructure and have the right kind of product available. Some of that work is under way, but again, I'm certainly going to ensure that we are getting ready and ramping up and knowing that that date is soon coming. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is great that the Minister is following up on pros and cons of the Tuktoyaktuk Highway, the best practices, so we don't encounter similar challenges on the all-weather road. The next question I have: if this new all-weather road sparks community-based tourism in Whati, that tourism will belong to the people of Whati, not the territorial government. How is the Minister engaging with Whati to ensure that Whati is in the driver's seat and that tourism is respectful of Whati's value, tradition, and also their interests?

I couldn't agree more. This is not a GNWT-led initiative at all. This is Whati government led, Tlicho government led. The role of the Department of ITI is there to support and to provide whatever assistance is requested or sought after. Certainly, this is not a project that we should be leading. I can say that there is an application that was received by the Department of ITI from the Tlicho government to help support the development of a one-year tourism, hospitality, small business start-up program. I am very happy to provide that support financially, as well as in terms of educational component so that, indeed, that can be driven by the community and developed in a way that is appropriate and respectful of the values of the community.

Thanks again to the Minister for providing the latest update in engaging the community on the proposal as has been submitted. There is just one proposal. I am sure there will be others. I want to refer to parks along the road from Highway 3, all the way to Whati, and in the community of Whati, as well. What consideration has the Minister's department given to a devolvement of new parks within the Whati region in response to tourism opportunities that will arrive with a new all-season road? How has the department engaged with Whati under the devolvement of new parks in the region?

There's not currently anything in the infrastructure plans of the department with respect to territorial parks. I'm not sure if, indeed, there may be a community driven plan or a Tlicho government driven plan for a park, in which case would certainly again, same as before, happy to provide a supporting role. Again, I'm a bit hesitant to say anything more beyond that other than that there's nothing at this point, but certainly would be happy to work with the community if there is a role for the GNWT therein.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Monfwi.

Masi, Mr. Speaker. The reason that I'm raising this issue now, we have to start planning, like today, before November opening of the celebration of the all-season road. I will be following up with the department again and with my leadership, as well. Mr. Speaker, my next question is the monitoring mechanism. As you know, there will be an influx of people from all walks of life going through the community of Whati. I would like to ask the Minister: the real work starts when the all-season road is completed. Monitors will be needed to engage impacts. Additional police will be required to patrol the road. Staff will be needed to issue fishing licences, and also park permits. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister explain how the department's preparing for those challenges? Masi, Mr. Speaker.

I understand there is an ongoing, I believe, working group. If it's not that formal, then perhaps that's the next step as to formalize that group, working between ITI, the Government of the Northwest Territories, as well as the community of Whati and the Tlicho government to ensure that whatever needs their government may have that if they are inviting our participation in support, that we are there to provide it. What I would suggest at this point, Mr. Speaker, is to indeed confirm what the state of the working group is if it is that formal and, if it's not, to move it along there so that we can indeed identify correctly where the GNWT's role is and what needs to be in place. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of ECE. I recognize work is under way to transform Aurora College into a polytechnic institute, and that earth, resources, and environment management is identified as an area of specialization. Mr. Speaker, I would like to know what, exactly, will be the focus for the Western Arctic Aurora College campus and what is the role of the Aurora Research Institute in the polytechnic transformation? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Aurora Research Institute is the research division of Aurora College. They have staff across the territory, and they have a very robust presence in Inuvik. The Inuvik campus includes the Western Arctic Research Centre, which houses multiple teams working on things like remote sensing, climate change, northern energy needs. As the college transforms into a polytechnic, that research element will require a larger and larger role. One of the big differences between universities and colleges is that research element. I think that we might be entering the golden age for research in the Western Arctic. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We have had a lot of discussions, and this government and in the past government in regards to climate change, and I would like to know, will the Western Arctic take the leadership role for climate change of research in the Northwest Territories and focus it in Inuvik?

Will the Minister answer: how will the polytechnic work with the private sector to deliver programs in the Western Arctic that lead to employment or business opportunities in the regions?

Engaging with the private sector is critical to a polytechnic university. Polytechnics are based on hands-on learning, and we need the private sector to assist with that. I know there's always a strong desire for apprentice programs in the Beaufort-Delta, and in order to do that, we need partners to work with. There are constant discussions with current staff and both the Gwich'in and the IRC about their needs and how we can partner together. Yes, there has been a very close connection with private enterprise. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. In line with my Member's statement, I have some questions for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. Continuing on with my line of questions from last week, last week, the Minister advised that affected hunters and trappers are eligible for funding in case of environmental damages such as the environmental event that happened. In reviewing last week's notes, I did not see any exact numbers. Can the Minister give an update on what exactly these amounts are? Marsi cho.