Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The Hamlet of Enterprise has approximately 120 residents; five businesses, including a motel, convenience, and gas bar. The businesses mostly cater to out-of-town requests for service, businesses such as a plumbing and heating contractor, cabinet supply company, modular home company, and the furniture cash-and-carry business. There are a couple of small, niche businesses such as Winnie's Dene Art Gallery and D'Arcy Moses Fashion Design, both in the same building that used to house a former cafe and gas bar.
Mr. Speaker, one would think this was a vibrant and happening place, considering all that economic potential. However, many of the businesses are small mom-and-pop operations and cannot afford to hire new staff or any staff at all. Since COVID hit, this hamlet has been hit hard in terms of business potential and opportunities. The hamlet's only gas bar, motel, and convenience store has not opened for a couple of years since it had new owners, and this was due to COVID. I understand this may well be for sale once again.
The hamlet is the first community on Highway No. 1 and approximately 84 kilometres, roughly 54 miles, from the 60th parallel, the NWT-Alberta border. It is very puzzling that Enterprise is not touted as the gateway to the falls, as these are very near to the community. I don't see much signage in Enterprise or a visitors information centre to make visitors and tourists aware of these hotspots for activity. Even the residents who run small businesses are bypassed for campground custodian contracts. Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment at the appropriate time. Mahsi.
