Bob McLeod

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to recognize Mr. Ron Ostrom, director of marketing with NWT Tourism and also Janine Carmichael with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, an organization powered by entrepreneurs. She is a representative for Western Canada. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last weekend our territorial parks were opened to the public in every region except Inuvik where those parks will open on June 1st. This kicks off the summer tourism season here in the Northwest Territories. We will also celebrate NWT Tourism Week from June 7 to 13. With these events taking place and with this being the last session until the fall, I think this is an appropriate time to highlight the importance of the tourism industry to our Territory.

That importance is demonstrated in dollars and cents. Last year tourism contributed $130.3 million to the Northwest...

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents entitled Businesspeople Working for Other Businesspeople, Northwest Territories Business Development and Investment Corporation Corporate Plan 2010-2011, and NWT Business Development and Investment Corporation Annual Report 2008-2009. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. In our view this is a Government of the Northwest Territories policy. It has no implications for land claims. In the example that the Member uses, I believe he’s talking about the Inuvik Capital Suites. It’s 50 percent owned by the Zheh Gwizu Limited and 50 percent by NewNorth Projects Ltd. The Business Incentive Policy is very clear as to the requirements for definition of a northern business and the Business Incentive Policy approval requires either 51 percent northern ownership or they be a grandfathered company, which has a minimum of 10 years operating in the North with...

At the meeting we talked about trying to dovetail with the Government of the Northwest Territories business planning process and the call has gone out already. As you know, working with the new initiatives we’ve put in place a marker already. In the discussions that we had in our meeting it became quite obvious that there are different parts to filmmaking and there are different parts to it. I think as part of the terms of reference, we will be looking at all the different sectors of filmmaking. My expectation is that through a combination of existing programs and using the business planning...

Mr. Speaker, the town of Norman Wells is known for many things: friendly people, a rich oilfield, the CANOL Trail and the scenic beauty of a place that lies on the banks of the Mackenzie River and at the foot of the Mackenzie Mountains.

What Norman Wells probably isn’t known for is that it was the potato growing capital of the Northwest Territories last year. In 2009 more than 10,000 pounds of potatoes were grown there and then distributed and sold in the Sahtu region.

And how did this come about, Mr. Speaker? Well, thanks to the commitment and efforts of local producers with contributions from...

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents entitled Agriculture Products Marketing Council 2008-2009 Annual Report and Agriculture Products Marketing Council 2009-2010 Annual Report.

As well, Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled Growing Forward: Small Scale Foods Program Community Gardening Initiative 2009-2010 Annual Report. Thank you.

Thank you. The Department of Human Resources endeavour to make sure exactly that happened. We have Human Resources staff meet with all departmental staff on a regular basis to review their requirements for summer student hiring, and every department is aware of the process and also the priorities for hiring students. We will be continuing to monitor the summer student hiring as we go forward. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Summer students are given that priority. Thank you.

My expectation is that we would have to meet with the fishermen to see where their interests lie. Obviously they don’t want to be involved with the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation, so we would have to meet with them to see what their interests are. If they’re going to operate as independent businessmen, we’d have to see what their business plans would entail. Thank you.