Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to begin today, Speaker, by acknowledging how good I look in my new vest, Mr. Speaker. And I'd like to thank the artisans who made it, Georgina Franki, a very talented seamstress, known to many of us as a Tlicho language instructor and to more of us in this House, particularly as our clerk, Jen's mom.
In addition, this beautiful beadwork, Mr. Speaker, is second to none and some of the best work I've ever seen and made none other than the Member for Monfwi, Mr. Speaker.
And there's a bit of a point to my fashion acknowledgement, Mr. Speaker, and that I would like everyone in this House to do everything they can to support our local artisans. And with March 1st and the return of tourism, Mr. Speaker, I'm proposing operation shakedown, where we do everything we can to get the money out of the hands of tourists and into the pockets of our local artisans, Mr. Speaker.
I'd like to see the Minister checking bags at the airport to make sure as people leave, they got enough furs, enough moccasins, enough carvings, and enough paintings, and they get on that plane and went what just happened?
In addition to that, Mr. Speaker, Yellowknife North, I'm starting to see tourists back already and it -- when you walk around Yellowknife North, you see lots of tourists, and I understand that; it is the best place on earth. But I often think, Mr. Speaker, that just coming to Yellowknife is not truly seeing the North. We all know that, that you have to get out into our communities and experience that. So, in addition to operation shakedown, Mr. Speaker, I'd like to propose operation get outta town.
And Mr. Speaker, I believe with a targeted approach and partnership with operators in our communities, we can get some of those visitors to make sure that when they visit the North, it's not just Yellowknife. I believe even a small percentage of those visitors who come to Yellowknife, if they tack on another destination, that is good for business for the small communities. It means jobs in those communities, and it really means an all-around better experience for those tourists.
I'll have questions for the Minister of ITI on what we can do to support our artisans and tourism in our small communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.