Thank you, Mr. Chair. So I want to echo many of the points raised by my colleague from Frame Lake. I also am concerned with our fiscal situation and concerned with us continuing to build new infrastructure that is neither meeting basic needs, nor delivering us back enough revenue to cover the costs of building and maintaining and operating it. And in particular, when I was looking at the proposal for the new Cameron River Crossing Territorial Park, first I want to say I do appreciate that we have staff that are trying to think creatively and think outside the box of new ideas and ways that we can serve residents; I really do appreciate that. In this particular case, I'm not convinced that there is a significant market that is currently being unserved by our current options. I didn't hear any evidence that there was some kind of survey or like sort of, you know, scientific evidence or data that was collected on need. And certainly, I spend a lot of time out camping in tents off of the Ingraham Trail and many of those paddling routes that are in that area that were mentioned, and it was mentioned that this could be sort of an overnight stopover, and I've -- I've never found the need, and no one I know who does similar things, has ever felt the need to tent in a roadside established campground before heading out on the back country route that your destination is. So what we're looking at is $365,000 just initially, and that doesn't even cover the cost of actually building the campsites or the outhouse, so we don't even know what that additional cost would be in future years. And so I just don't think it's a good idea to proceed with this idea -- with this project. Instead, I would suggest what I have heard a lot, from both residents, constituents, and people who frequent camping spots and cabin spots along the Ingraham Trail, is where we do have a dire need for improved infrastructure is out at Tibbitt. And that's just in the sense of needing more garbage cans and toilets. So it's an extremely well-used area. It's a jumping off point to many other canoe routes, cabin routes, and we don't even have, you know, garbage cans and toilets and so people end up just leaving, you know, refuse all over the place. And so to me, I think we need to start with just looking at our existing needs and just stick with the basics. So that's where I would, you know, direct us to look to first before we start thinking of brand-new projects as complex as a new campground. So with that, I'm prepared to support the motion of my colleague. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Shauna Morgan on Committee Motion 49-20(1): Tabled Document 193-20(1): 2025-2026 Capital Estimates - Industry, Tourism and Investment - Tourism and Parks - Reduce Infrastructure Investments, Defeated
In the Legislative Assembly on October 30th, 2024. See this statement in context.
Committee Motion 49-20(1): Tabled Document 193-20(1): 2025-2026 Capital Estimates - Industry, Tourism and Investment - Tourism and Parks - Reduce Infrastructure Investments, Defeated
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
October 30th, 2024
See context to find out what was said next.